DE19636270A1 - Rail-assembly for linear guide - Google Patents

Abstract

The lengthwise axis (T) of the rail-supporting base (10) is parallel to that (F) of the rail (24), along which a slide (42) is guided. The rail comprises a foot, a head (36), and lateral guiding surfaces (38) either side of its vertical axis (H). Fixing devices transmit vertical forces between it and the base. Inside the latter is a cylinder passage (48) forming a ram (56) driving the slide and parallel to the axes (T,F). Its apex towards the rail is roughly on the vertical axis, at which point its wall thickness (58) is least. The vertical forces are at least partly transmitted through the wall at points clear of the vertical axis, and where wall thickness is greater. The rail foot can bear against a face on the base which forms an aligning face.

Description

The invention relates to a linear guide unit, comprising an elongated guide housing with a longitudinal axis and with a guide cavity delimiting walls, which at least define a longitudinal opening of the guide cavity, further comprising at least one within the guide cavity guided by sliding or / and rolling means, whereby this carriage through the longitudinal opening with an in Object to be guided in the direction of the longitudinal axis can be connected, in which further inside the guide housing in the neighborhood of that Guide cavity ver at least one parallel to the longitudinal axis running fluid cylinder space is arranged, with further in a piston is accommodated in this fluid cylinder space, wherein further this piston in at least one stranding agent Drive connection with the carriage is, whereby this Strand means coming from the piston through in at least one Fluid tightly arranged end region of the fluid cylinder space is led out of the fluid cylinder space, whereby further this strand means coming from the fluid sealant via in at least one end region of the guide housing attached strand deflecting agent introduced to the carriage is.

Such a linear guide unit is from EP 0 384 032 B1 known.

The feedback runs in the known linear guide unit tion strand of the strand means designed as a belt between a deflecting means in each of the two end areas of the guide housing along a slot in which the carriage ge leads is. A complete encapsulation of the guide cavity  is from the drawings and also from the associated description exercise not to be removed.

DE 38 15 595 A1 describes a linear guide unit Belt drive known. The belt of the belt drive forms a loop, which is between each pulley at the both ends of the guide housing is tensioned; that one strand this loop, namely the one with the carriage is connected in terms of drive runs in the area of the longitudinal opening and forms a labyrinth seal at its edges in that it has these edges in sealing and guiding grooves of the plastic profiles delimiting the longitudinal opening immersed. The other strand of the closed loop Drive belt runs in one within the guide housing covered return duct at the bottom of the bottom wall of the guide housing.

In view of these two embodiments, an average person skilled in the field of linear guide technology would have primarily thought of this, if he had been given the task of encapsulating the guide cavity in a construction as shown in FIG. 2 of EP 0 384 032 B1, as in the case of FIG DE-OS 38 15 595 A1 discloses using the return run of the drive belt also present in EP 0 384 032 B1 to cover the longitudinal opening.

In contrast, it is proposed according to the invention that within of the guide cavity existing lubricants and / or rolling agents as well as parts of the Strand means using within the guide cavity of in addition to the at least one stranding agent NEN, the flexible covering at least one longitudinal opening Covering agents are essentially completely encapsulated.

The solution according to the invention achieves the following: Guide cavity in which the lubricant or rolling agent for the Carriages are housed and also at least parts of the  connected to the piston, driving the carriage Strand means are housed is essentially kap rare, namely through the cover. This cover means lie conditions at least in the area of the longitudinal opening of a contamination open from the environment. If such pollution occurs Cover means from the outside, so this is primarily on the outside of the cover. A transition of dirt from the outside of the cover is depending on the detail design not completely excluded, but everyone if so difficult that during normal operating periods a shame leading to damage or uselessness of lubricants and / or rolling agents cannot occur. In addition, the strand means, which are from the carriage coming to the management via their associated deflection means ends of the housing through the sealant into the cylinder the room and with the piston housed there are essentially encapsulated. She also failed no direct risk of contamination. The possibility that dirt could get to these strands, is small anyway. This is of crucial importance tung: The strand means that pass through the sealant the fluid cylinder space are introduced, namely in Sliding engagement with the fluid sealant at the ends of the Fluid cylinder space. Would that strand means if they are outside the fluid cylinder space, a Ver exposed to the risk of dirt, it would affect them adhering dirt, for example in the form of dust or in Form of chips, premature damage or disintegration disrupt the fluid sealant if the stranding agent in the course of the movements of the carriage along the guide housing slides against the fluid sealant and thereby rubs and constantly other, soiled parts of the strand agent get into the area of the fluid sealant.

The basic idea of the invention is therefore, except Attention to the idea that is obvious at first glance using the piston that connects the piston to the carriage  Strand means as a covering for the longitudinal opening next to to provide this strand means with a separate covering means. This way all critical components of the Linear management unit and in particular the strand means which the Slip through fluid sealant from contamination be kept free. The considerable construction effort involved in it lies, in addition to the already necessary and basically also separate covering means suitable for encapsulation means to provide and the acceptance of the enlarged Raumbe may result from the use of an additional masking agent results in addition to the strand means already present thus, as the testing of the invention has shown, justifiable done.

The guide housing can, as already from the above Known in the art, with a bottom wall and two screens tenwalls and one between areas of the longitudinal opening running on both side walls. This can be done within the guide cavity on the bottom wall rest at least one guide rail with a base part, preferably within a base part receiving groove wall. This known embodiment with guide housing and Guide manufactured separately from the guide housing rail allows the guide housing to be proportionate to provide low costs as an extrusion profile, e.g. B. made of aluminum or other light metal, while the Guide rail, which performs the essential management tasks has to take over, can be made of steel, therefore is insensitive to use and with high precision, at least in the area of their base and in the area of their treads, be can be worked. On the outside of the guide area walls that form a house can be made during the manufacturing process Fixing grooves are attached, which the Fastening the guide housing to a supporting structure or can serve within a robot design.

The linear guide units according to the invention can for  various purposes are used, e.g. B. to guide Machine tool components, such as machining tools, too for guiding workpieces on machine tools, also for Management of measuring tools or objects in examination and testing machines and also as parts of robots in which an executive body to perform at least one longitudinal movement ren has.

The carriage can be in the guide housing on at least one Guide rail mediating at least one runner part be guided, which with a web part and the base part head part of the guide rail remote from the guide rail bridged and with one leg part each side of the Guide rail is adjacent. This configuration results a particularly stable guidance of the carriage on the Guide rail that withstands great forces and moments.

Smooth running and high guiding precision of the carriage can be achieved in that the at least one runner part on the guide rail by means of at least one endless Rolling row is guided, which is a load-bearing rolling element series in simultaneous engagement with a Füh career tion rail and a career of the runner part, further a reverse rolling row and at both ends of the load-bearing Rolling row and the returning rolling row one each Rolling arch series includes. But there are also other leaders Solution solutions conceivable, e.g. B. it is conceivable that on the sides walls of the guide housing within the guide cavity at least one roller track is formed and that at the guide carriage rollers are arranged, one of which first group in rolling engagement with the at least one Roller track on one side wall and another group in rolling engagement with the at least one roller track on the other side wall.

In this embodiment, too, the roller tracks of separately manufactured components, e.g. B. guidewires  or guide rods with a round cross section. Reason In addition, it is also conceivable to use the rollers on careers To be baptized, which is directly related to the material of the Füh bare housing.

What now the design of the flexible covering means different alternatives are possible Lich.

According to a first alternative it is provided that the flexi blen cover means at least one movable masking tape grasp which with a covering strand the at least one Longitudinal opening essentially covers, in the area of the minde at least one longitudinal opening with the carriage in the drive connection manure and at least with a masking tape deflecting means an end region of the guide housing is deflected. Here can between a masking tape deflecting means on the two End areas of the guide housing a return strand of the minde at least one masking tape; this return run can in particular also run outside the guide cavity; it is preferably left in a masking tape return duct Guide housing run.

Based on the known solutions after the dis cut state of the art, it is possible that the movable Masking tape, the fluid cylinder space, the strand means and the Longitudinal opening approximately symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis parallel central plane are arranged. Then it results itself that - in a sectional plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis considered - the longitudinal opening with the cover strand of the cover bandes, a section of the carriage connected to the carriage Strand means, a portion of the piston connected to the piston Strand means and the return run of the masking tape in the Order of the enumeration are arranged in succession. In particular one becomes the geometrical assignment of the individual Components also taking into account the respective on Choose the purpose of the sentence, especially the one in use  loads and spatial conditions To be able to take into account. Taking into account such Considerations can also arise that the least a longitudinal opening and the at least one masking tape on the part and the at least one fluid cylinder space and that on the other hand, at least one strand means in two of each other spaced planes parallel to the longitudinal axis are arranged. If you are striving for a design in which the line The cross section of the guide unit is flat is, d. H. with a relatively long and with a relative short cross-sectional axis, so you can choose a design len such that a fluid cylinder space with an associated Strand means in an intermediate plane between two parallel ones External levels are arranged, each of which has a longitudinal opening and a masking tape are assigned. In this embodiment you can then have a runner part in each of the two outer levels of the carriage and can run both parts of the runner too connect with each other by a yoke. You get on this Way a particularly flat linear guide unit, the is particularly resistant to moments of stress orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and the long cross-sectional axis standing moment axes. In such an embodiment can the two longitudinal openings through a cover plate by be separated from each other at their in the direction of the longitudinal axially spaced ends with the end portions of the guide housing, if necessary with the mediation of at the ends of the guide housing attached trusses are attached. Are linear guide units with very large Guide length, for example of several meters, you can to avoid sagging of the cover plate to the Put the ends of the guide housing under tension and to avoid sagging of the cover plate.

In addition to the alternative of moving cover means there are another alternative that the flexible covering means as sta tional cover means are formed, which relative to Guide housing in its two in the direction of the longitudinal axis  spaced end areas are determined and by the Run the carriage through in the direction of the longitudinal axis. This The alternative reduces the mechanical effort for the assembly of the guide housing and the attachments at the ends of the guide rungsgehäuses, but on the other hand complicates the construction of the Carriage in which they, at least if high sealing effect to be achieved, the implementation of the cover by got the carriage. The stationary cover can also be used here medium be designed as a masking tape. This masking tape can be made of rubber, plastic or metal. The same also applies to the moving Ab discussed above shrouds.

The encapsulation effect can be further improved in that the stationary covering means with mechanical and / or magne table adhesives on edge areas of the longitudinal opening in each case outside of a pass area through the connector is staplable. This measure can be used in particular for this be ensured that even where there is a varying position of the carriage the masking tape in the flow channel of the connector runs in or out of this, high Encapsulation quality is guaranteed.

Furthermore, the encapsulation quality can be improved that the stationary covering means through a guide channel of the carriage is passed, which on its two Ends approximately in the plane that ends by the cover development of the stationary covering means opposite the longitudinal opening is defined.

As for the formation of the stranding agent, which the Brings the piston to the carriage in the drive connection you do this with as few edges as possible, i.e. with rounded edges or outline transitions so that the abrasion both the stranding agent and the associated fluids sealant remains as low as possible and remains as constant as possible surface pressure serving the seal over the whole  Outline of the strand agent is obtained.

The fluid cylinder space and accordingly the piston can be carried out with a round cross-section; but it is also think bar, other cross sections, in particular oval cross sections choose, the oval cross-sections in particular an auxiliary form the required total cross-sections of the Win linear guide unit.

If, according to the basic idea of the invention in a Linear guide unit next to the strand means, which - um to connect a piston to a carriage - deflecting means at the ends of the guide housing, additionally still has to accommodate separate cover means, u. Maybe even Covering agents that in turn are moved and therefore additional Liche deflection means necessary, so the assembly of the entire device. To address this problem too to help, it is therefore further proposed that at least a deflecting means, namely at least one strand deflecting means or a masking tape deflecting means, in one at one end of the Guide housing attached deflection encapsulant de rart is housed that this at least one Umlenkmit tel in the respective end area of the guide housing gig of the deflection encapsulation means can be assembled in advance, then the associated strand means or masking tape on the mounted deflection means can be placed and then the respective Deflection encapsulant is attachable. In this way it can be made possible that strand means and / or cover medium must only be hung up when the associated other deflecting means are mounted, but be put on can before the encapsulation associated with these deflection means medium be attached. In particular, it is possible that a strand deflecting means and a masking tape deflecting means depending on each other in an end region of the guide housing are mountable.

The accompanying figures explain the invention with reference to  Embodiments. They represent:

Figure 1 is an overall view of a linear guide device according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section along line II-II of Fig. 1;

FIG. 3a shows a section along line IIIa-IIIa of Fig. 2;

FIG. 3b shows a section along line IIIb-IIIb of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 and 4b sections corresponding to those of Figures 3a and 3b in a first modification of the construction according to Fig. 2.

Fig. 5a and 5b sections corresponding to those of Figures 3a and 3b in a second modification of the construction according to Fig. 2.

Fig. 6a and 6b sections corresponding to those of Figures 3a and 3b in a third modification of the construction according to Fig. 2.

. Figs. 7a and 7b sections corresponding to Fig 3a and 3b in a fourth modification of the construction according to the invention shown in FIG. 2;

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section corresponding to Fig. 2 of a fifth modification of the construction of Fig. 2 and

Fig. 9 shows a cross section through a further embodiment of the invention.

In Fig. 1, a guide housing is designated 10 . At the end regions 12 and 14 of this guide housing 10 Endkä are most attached 16 and 18 , which preferably have the same cross-sectional profile as the guide housing 10 .

In FIGS. 2 and 3a, 3b can be seen that the guide housing 10 has a bottom wall 20 and two side walls 22 and 24. A guide cavity 26 is enclosed by the walls 20 , 22 and 24 . The guide cavity 26 is upward in the region of a loading of flanges 28,30 of the side walls 22,24 fabric th upper boundary wall 32 is open; the opening is designed as a longitudinal opening 31 which extends over the entire length of the guide housing 10 between the two end boxes 16 and 18 . A positioning groove 34 is machined into the bottom wall 20 and is open towards the guide cavity 26 . In this positioning groove 34 , the base of a guide rail 36 is inserted; the base is designated 38 . A carriage 40 is guided in the longitudinal direction A of the guide housing 10 on the guide rail 36 . The carriage 40 is composed of a U-shaped lower part 42 and a table part 44 , which are connected by a connecting part 46 . The connecting part 46 passes through the longitudinal opening 31 . The three parts of the carriage 40 , that is to say the parts 42 , 44 and 46 , are produced in one piece. On the carriage, namely on the table part 44 , an object can be fastened to who, for example by sliding blocks, which are used in grooves 48 of the table part 44 and have threaded holes for mounting bolts (not shown).

The U-shaped lower part 42 of the carriage 40 is on the guide rail 36 by a total of four ball loops 50 leads ge. The ball loops 50 are mutually the same forms. A ball loop consists of a supporting ball row 52 , a returning ball row 54 and two (not shown) curved ball rows at the ends of the straight ball rows 52 and 54 . The carriage 40 is thus guided on the Füh guide rail 36 rolling. To move the Laufwa gene 40 on the guide rail 36 in the direction of the longitudinal axis A, a pneumatic linear drive 56 is provided. This pneumatic linear drive 56 comprises in the bottom wall 20 a cylinder chamber 58 which is elliptical in cross section and which extends over the entire length of the guide housing 10 . The longer axis of the ellipse is parallel to the bottom wall 20 angeord net, so that for a given total cross-sectional area of the cylinder chamber 58, the height of the overall arrangement according to FIG. 3a is relatively low. A piston 60 is accommodated in the cylinder chamber 58 and is designed without a piston rod. The piston can be provided in the usual way with piston rings which are inserted in circumferential grooves of the piston in order to seal the two working spaces on both sides of the piston 60 from one another. Of the work spaces, only the left work space 62 is shown in FIG. 2. The work rooms can be connected to a compressed air supply and to the atmosphere by a compressed air line system via a valve control. From the compressed air line system, only one line 64 is schematically Darge. By acting differently on the two working spaces on both sides of the piston 60 , the piston can be positioned in any position along the cylinder space 58 .

The cylinder chamber 58 is closed in its two end regions by end walls 66 , only one of which is shown in FIG. 2. This end wall 66 is fixed by two hedging rings 68 in the axial direction. The end wall 66 can be sealed on its circumference by sealing means 67 against the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder space. The final wall 66 is penetrated by a strand bushing 70 . The strand feed-through 70 is provided with sealing means 72 . A drive train 74 is passed through the passage bushing 70 , as shown in FIG. 2. The drive train 74 is anchored at 76 at one end to the left side of the piston 60 . After it has passed through the duct feed-through 70, the drive train 74 runs via a deflection roller 78 and from this deflection roller 78 into the guide cavity 26 and is anchored at its other end at 80 in the carriage 40 . A corresponding drive train, which is not shown in Fig. 2, runs from the right side of the piston 60 to the right end of the cylinder space, there through a passage through another end wall and through a further deflecting roller on the right not shown in Fig. 2 End of the guide housing to an anchoring point 82 of the carriage 40 .

It is readily apparent that a difference by Liche Luftdruckbeaufschlagung of the working spaces on both Be th of the piston 60 caused displacement of the piston 60 a corresponding opposite displacement of the carriage 40 in the direction of the axis A has the consequence.

The deflection roller 78 is mounted on a bearing block 82 which is arranged at the left end of the guide housing 10 in FIG. 2 and is centered by engagement in the cylinder space 58 . The deflection roller 78 is slidably mounted on this bearing block 82 by means of a bearing block 84 which is adjustable on the bearing block 82 by an adjusting spindle 86 . The tension of the drive train 74 can be adjusted by rotating the adjusting spindle 86 . The bearing block 82 and the deflection roller 78 are encapsulated by the end box 16 . The end box 16 is centered on the guide housing 10 by dowel pins 88 and fastened by screw bolts, not shown.

The bearing block 82 can be fastened separately from the end box 16 to the guide housing 10 after the piston 60 has been inserted into the cylinder space 58 , the end wall 66 has been installed and fixed, and the drive train 74 runs through the end wall 66 . Then the drive train 74 can be placed around the guide roller 78 and anchored to the barrel 40 at 80 . The same process can be repeated on the right side of the guide housing according to FIG. 2. The end boxes 16 and 18 can then be attached. In this way, the laying of the drive trains 74 is very simple.

The task now is to complete the longitudinal opening 31, so that can penetrate this dust or chips or other debris in the guide cavity 26th For this purpose, a stationary masking tape is used, which can be seen in FIGS . 1, 2, 3a and 3b and is designated there by 90 . This masking tape 90 is fixed to the two end boxes 16, 18 , as can be seen in FIG. 2, for example by fastening screws 92 . The masking tape runs through a feed-through channel 94 of the carriage 40 , as can be seen from FIGS . 2 and 3a. The cover band 90 lies with its edges 96 on edge profiles of the flanges 28, 30 , so that the longitudinal opening 31 in the longitudinal areas outside of the carriage 40 is covered tightly by the cover band 90 . In the longitudinal region of the Laufwa gene 40 , the longitudinal opening 31 is covered by the carriage 40 itself. Good coverage is ensured even where the cover tape 90 exits or enters the passage 94 . This is ensured by sliding shoes 98 at the two ends of the feed-through channel 94 , which bring the cover strip 90 with its edges into engagement with the edge profiles 100 of the flanges 28, 30 directly on the two end surfaces of the carriage 40 orthogonal to the longitudinal axis A. Within the longitudinal extension of the carriage 40 of the feedthrough makes channel 94, so that the through channel 94 can be dimensioned wide enough an upwardly convex hump 102 to a longitudinal opening 31 be able to use fully covering cover 90th The hump 102 is sta bilized by a shoe 104 .

It can be seen that all moving parts of the carriage guide and the carriage drive are encapsulated by the cover band 90 , so that they are inaccessible to dirt from the outside. In particular, no dirt can get to the drive trains 74 , so that the sealing means 72 of the strand lead-through conditions 70 have long service lives.

In the end box 16 and 18 there is a tool passage opening 106 through which a clamping tool can be brought up to the adjusting spindle 86 in order to tension the drive train 74 . The guide housing 10 with the Zylin derraum 58 and longitudinal grooves 108 is made as an extruded aluminum profile. The grooves 108 are used to receive slot nuts so that the guide housing can be attached to a support structure in a variety of positions. It should be noted in particular that three side surfaces of the guide housing 10 are exposed and can be attached to a supporting structure.

The carriage can also be made of light metal. Except for the feed-through channel 94 , which can be subsequently produced by machining, the entire profile of the carriage 40 can be produced as an extruded profile. It is also conceivable to manufacture the feed-through channel 94 with oversize and to subsequently use the sliding shoes to shape the feed-through channel 94 , for example as preassembled parts of cover plates 110 .

In Fig. 3b one can see at the end of the U-shaped lower part of the carriage one of two end plates or end caps, which are attached to both ends of this U-shaped lower part and are designated by 112 . In these end plates 112 Bo gene guides for the rows of arches (not shown) can be incorporated. If the U-shaped lower part 42 of the carriage 40 is made of aluminum, the tracks can advantageously be formed on insert plates 114 , which in turn can be made of steel and can be rocked.

The attachment of the guide rail 36 to the bottom wall 20 can be done, for example, that in a fastening supply duct 116 of the lower wall 20, a counter-holding strip 118 is used, preferably made of steel, if the guide rail 36 is also made of steel, and that the guide rail 36 then is clamped by bolts 120 with the counter holding strip 118 , the bolts 120 penetrating a slot between the guide cavity 26 and the fastening channel 116 .

In the embodiment according to FIGS . 2-3b, the drive train 74 can be designed as a monofilament plastic train or a rope. The masking tape 90 can also be made of plastic.

The embodiment according to FIGS. 4a and 4b differs from that according to FIGS . 3a and 3b essentially only in that an Fe metal band or a plastic band filled with Fe metal is used as the cover band 90 b, which is produced by magnetic strips 121 b is held in cover engagement with the flanges 28 b, 30 b.

The embodiment according to FIGS. 5a and 5b differs from that according to FIGS . 3a and 3b in that the barrel carriage 40 c is composed of two separately prefabricated parts, namely a U-shaped lower part 42 c and a table part 44 c , which - in one piece - also includes the connecting part 46 c. The advantage of this embodiment is that 42 c standardized guide slides can be used for the lower parts.

The embodiment of Fig. 6a and 6b differs from that of FIG. 3a and 3b by the fact that 36 of the Fig. 3a and 3b, two run wires are entered 122 d in place of the guide rail which d in the side walls 22, 24 clamped d are. On these running wires 122 d, the carriage 40 d is guided by means of rollers 124 d, which are mounted on bearing shafts 126 d of the carriage 40 d. In the direction of the longitudinal axis A successive rollers 124 d are alternately in engagement with the left and right running wires 122 d.

The embodiment according to FIGS. 7a and 7b differs from that according to FIGS. 6a and 6b only in that, instead of a plastic cover strip, a cover strip 90 e made of metal has been replaced, which, as in the embodiment according to FIGS. 4a and 4b can be held by magnetic strips 121 e in the sealing position with respect to the longitudinal opening 31 e.

The embodiment according to FIG. 8 differs from that according to FIG. 2 in that in place of the stationary cover band 90 a cover band 130 f moved with the carriage 40 f is stepped with a cover strand 142 f and a return strand 148 f. This cover band 130 f runs at the left end of FIG. 8 of the guide housing 10 f via deflection rollers 132 f, which are mounted on a deflection roller carrier 134 f. The deflection roller carrier 134 f is made separately from the bearing block 82 f, so that it can also be mounted separately on the guide housing 10 f. This leads to a further he ease of final assembly, for example, that after the mounting bracket 82 f and laying the drive train 74 f the deflection roller carrier 134 f is attached to the guide housing 10 f, then the cover tape 130 f is moved and finally the end boxes 16 f and 18 f are attached to the guide housing 10 f. It is possible to provide 132 f special tensioning means for the deflecting rollers, which by the end box 16 f and 18 f through means of a clamping tools and equipment can be operated. It can also be seen in FIG. 8 that the return run 148 f runs in a cover tape return channel 150 f of the bottom wall 20 f.

The cover band 130 f need not be passed through the runner 40 f here, but can be anchored with its two ends to the opposite, longitudinally spaced end faces of the carriage 40 f, for. B. at 136 f. This makes the carriage 40 f simpler than in the previously described embodiments. The edges of the cover band 130 f can be guided in guide grooves 138 f of the flanges 28 f, 30 f of the guide housing 10 f and form a type of labyrinth seal there.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 9, the carriage 40 g is designed with two U-shaped runner parts 139 g, which are integrally connected to one another via a yoke 140 g. The two U-shaped runner parts 139 g are guided on guide rails 36 g as the lower part 42 in FIGS . 3a and 3b is guided on the guide rail 36 there. The cylinder chamber 58 g and the piston 60 g with the drive train 74 g are arranged here in a central plane ME, while the guide rails 36 g with the U-shaped rotor parts 139 g and the cover strips 130 g are arranged in outer planes AE and are symmetrical with respect to these . The cover strings 142 g of the cover strips 130 g are connected here to connection parts 144 g, which are optionally saddled on the U-shaped runner parts 139 g in one piece or separately and pass through the longitudinal openings 146 g, so that an object is located on the upper end plateaus of the connection parts 144 g can be attached. The cover strips 130 g are guided at the ends of the guide housing 10 g via deflections similar to the deflections shown in FIG. 8, which are also separated from one another similarly there and can be installed one after the other. The return dreams 148 g of the cover bands of 130 g run in separate return channels 150 g of the bottom wall 20 g. The cover strands 142 g of the cover strips 130 g each engage with an edge in a slot 152 g of the associated flange 28 g, 30 g and engage with the other edge in a slot 154 g of a cover plate 156 g. The cover plate 156 g extends over the entire length of the guide housing 10 g and can be attached to the ends of the guide housing 10 g under tension, so that it does not tend to sag even with a large length of the guide housing. The cover plate 156 g can also be attached to the ends of the guide housing on cross members which are not shown. These traverses can take the place of the end boxes 16 f or 18 f of FIG. 8 and encapsulate the deflections for the drive trains 74 g and the cover strips 130 g which are also necessary in FIG. 9. Here, too, separate manufacture and assembly of the deflections and the crossbeams is preferred.

In conclusion, it should be noted that in all shown Embodiments of the cylinder space ge all around is closed. In this respect, all execution differ examples of such linear guide units with pneumati  cal drive, in which the piston through a slot of the Cylinder chamber is connected to the carriage. The Embodiments according to the invention are accordingly preferred with all around closed cylinder rooms and with axially from the Cylinder rooms designed strand means. The Version with slotted cylinder rooms in special cases However, it should not be excluded.

The pneumatic actuators shown here are there a hermetic seal of the cylinder spaces at the through Care should be taken to ensure that the drivetrains are present Wrinkled seals at the passage points is not always guaranteed, not ge suitable, solely by dimensioning the filling of the work rooms exact positions along the longitudinal axis A with compressed air drive. Nevertheless, such a move to exact positions of course possible if a control loop is provided, d. H. if by arranging a position sensor on the carriage the respective actual position of the carriage is determined, ver this actual position with a predetermined target position is compared and from the difference between the target position and Actual position is a control signal for valve control is derived.

All of the exemplary embodiments relate to pneuma table drives. It is of course possible to use it as a driving fluid use a liquid instead of compressed gas or compressed air.

The embodiments with a one-piece carriage have the Advantage that the size due to the omission of fasteners means for assembling individual carriage components can be reduced.

As far as the above-described embodiments with stationary Masking tape work, there is the possibility of the edges of the Masking tapes in the edge profiles of the slot limitation parts to snap. You will not like this option  Use it when it is powered by the table Masking tapes act because then there is too much friction between the masking tapes and the edge profiles of the longitudinal openings would occur.

The term "fluid" includes both liquid and understood gaseous media.

Claims (25)

1. Linear guide unit, comprising an elongated guide housing ( 10 ) with a longitudinal axis (A) and with a guide cavity ( 26 ) delimiting walls ( 20 , 22 , 24 , 28 , 30 ) which have at least one longitudinal opening ( 31 ) of the guide cavity ( 26 ) limit, further comprising at least one carriage ( 40 ) guided within the guide cavity ( 26 ) by sliding or / and rolling means ( 50 ),
said carriage ( 40 ) being connectable through the longitudinal opening ( 31 ) to an object to be guided in the direction of the longitudinal axis (A),
wherein further inside the guide housing ( 10 ) in the vicinity of the guide cavity ( 26 ) there is at least one fluid cylinder ( 58 ) running parallel to the longitudinal axis (A),
a piston ( 60 ) being accommodated further in this fluid cylinder space ( 58 ),
wherein this piston ( 60 ) is in drive connection with the carriage ( 40 ) via at least one strand means ( 74 ),
further wherein this strand means (74) of the piston (60) is led out by coming in at least one end portion of the fluids cylinder space (58) arranged in fluid sealing means (72) from the fluid cylinder space (58),
wherein this strand means ( 74 ) coming from the fluid sealing means ( 72 ) is brought to the carriage ( 40 ) via a strand deflection means ( 78 ) attached in at least one end region ( 12, 14 ) of the guide housing ( 10 ),
characterized in that within the guide cavity ( 26 ) existing sliding or / and rolling means ( 50 ) as well as within the guide cavity ( 26 ) extending parts of the strand means ( 74 ) within the guide cavity ( 26 ) using in addition to the at least one Strand means ( 74 ) are provided which are essentially completely encapsulated in flexible covering means ( 90 ) covering at least one longitudinal opening ( 31 ). 2. Linear guide unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide housing (10) a bottom wall (20) and two side walls (22, 24) and between the bottom wall distant preparation surfaces of the two side walls (28, 30) at least one longitudinal opening (31). 3. Linear guide unit according to claim 2, characterized in that within the guide cavity ( 26 ) on the bottom wall ( 20 ) at least one guide rail ( 36 ) with a base part ( 38 ) rests, preferably within a base part receiving groove ( 34 ) of the bottom wall ( 20 ). 4. Linear guide unit according to one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the carriage ( 40 ) on at least one guide rail ( 36 ) with the intermediation of at least one rotor part ( 42 ) is guided, which with a web part one of the base part ( 38 ) bridging the head part of the guide rail ( 36 ) remote from the guide rail ( 36 ) and adjacent to each side surface of the guide rail ( 36 ) with one leg part. 5. Linear guide unit according to claim 4, characterized in that the at least one rotor part ( 42 ) on the guide rail ( 36 ) by means of at least one endless rolling element loop ( 50 ) which is a supporting rolling element row ( 52 ) in simultaneous engagement with a raceway Guide rail ( 36 ) and a raceway of the rotor part ( 42 ), further comprises a returning rolling element row ( 54 ) and at both ends of the supporting rolling element row ( 52 ) and the returning rolling element row ( 54 ) each comprise a rolling element arc row. 6. Linear guide unit according to claim 2, characterized in that on the side walls ( 22 d, 24 d) of the guide housing ( 10 d) within the guide cavity ( 26 d) at least one roller track ( 122 d) is formed and that on the guide carriage ( 40 d) rollers ( 124 d) are arranged, of which a first group in rolling engagement with the at least one roller track ( 122 d) on one side wall ( 22 d) and another group in rolling engagement with the at least one roller track ( 122 d) on the other side wall ( 24 d). 7. Linear guide unit according to one of claims 1-6, characterized in that the flexible covering means comprise at least one movable cover band ( 130 f) which covers the at least one longitudinal opening ( 31 f) with a cover strand ( 142 f) in the union Area of the at least one longitudinal opening ( 31 f) is in drive connection with the carriage ( 40 f) and is deflected via a cover band deflecting means ( 132 f) in at least one end area ( 16 f) of the guide housing ( 10 f). 8. Linear guide unit according to claim 7, characterized in that between a cover band deflecting means ( 132 f) at the two end regions ( 12 f, 14 f) of the guide housing ( 10 f) a return run ( 148 f) of the at least one cover band ( 130 f) runs. 9. Linear guide unit according to claim 8, characterized in that the return run ( 148 f) outside the guide cavity ( 26 f). 10. Linear guide unit according to claim 9, characterized in that the return run ( 148 f) in a cover tape return channel ( 150 f) of the guide housing ( 10 f). 11. Linear guide unit according to one of claims 7-10, characterized in that the movable cover band ( 130 f), the Fluidenzylin derraum ( 58 f), the strand means ( 74 f) and the longitudinal opening ( 31 f) approximately symmetrically with respect a central plane parallel to the longitudinal axis (A) are arranged. 12. Linear guide unit according to claim 11, characterized in that - viewed in a sectional plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis - the longitudinal opening ( 31 f) with the cover strand ( 142 f) of the cover tape ( 130 f), a section connected to the carriage ( 40 f) the strand means (74 f), one related to the piston (60 f) portion of the strand means (74 f) and the return run (148 f) of the Abdeckban (130 f) aufeinan in order of the enumeration are arranged derfolgend. 13. Linear guide unit according to one of claims 7-10, characterized in that the at least one longitudinal opening ( 146 g) and the at least one masking tape ( 130 g) on the one hand and the at least one fluid cylinder space ( 58 g) and the at least one strand means ( 74 g), on the other hand, are arranged in two planes (ME, AE) that are spaced apart and each parallel to the longitudinal axis (A). 14. Linear guide unit according to claim 13, characterized in that a fluid cylinder space ( 58 g) with an associated strand means ( 74 g) is arranged in an intermediate plane (ME) between two parallel outer planes (AE), each of which has a longitudinal opening ( 146 g) and a covering means ( 130 g) are assigned. 15. Linear guide unit according to claim 14, characterized in that in each of the two outer planes (AE) a rotor part ( 139 g) of the carriage ( 40 g) is guided. 16. Linear guide unit according to claim 15, characterized in that the two rotor parts ( 139 g) are connected to one another by a yoke ( 140 g). 17. Linear guide unit according to one of claims 14-16, characterized in that the two longitudinal openings ( 146 g) are separated from each other by a cover plate ( 156 g) which at their ends spaced in the direction of the longitudinal axis (A) with the end regions of the guide housing (10 g), if desired, through the intermediary of at the ends of the guide housing (10 g) mounted crossbars are mounted. 18. Linear guide unit according to one of claims 1-6, characterized in that the flexible cover means ( 90 ) are designed as stationary cover means, which relative to the guide housing ( 10 ) in its two in the direction of the longitudinal axis (A) spaced end regions ( 12th , 14 ) are fixed and run through the carriage ( 40 ) in the direction of the longitudinal axis (A). 19. Linear guide unit according to claim 18, characterized in that the stationary covering means (90) comprise at least one stationary cover (90). 20. Linear guide unit according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that the stationary covering means ( 90 ; 90 b) with mechanical rule ( 100 ) and / or magnetic ( 121 b) adhesives at edge areas ( 28 , 30 ; 28 b, 30 b) the longitudinal opening ( 31 ; 31 b) can be pinned outside the passage area through the barrel ( 40 ; 40 b). 21. Linear guide unit according to claim 20, characterized in that the stationary covering means ( 90 ) through a guide channel ( 94 ) of the carriage ( 40 ) is guided, which ends at both ends approximately in the plane which by the covering position of the stationary Ab covering means ( 90 ) with respect to the longitudinal opening ( 31 ) is defined. 22. Linear guide unit according to one of claims 1-21, characterized in that the strand means ( 74 ) leads out with rounded edges. 23. Linear guide unit according to one of claims 1-22, characterized in that the fluid cylinder space ( 58 ) is designed with an oval cross section. 24. Linear guide unit according to one of claims 1-23, characterized in that at least one deflecting means, namely at least one strand deflecting means ( 78 f) or a masking tape deflecting tel ( 132 f), in one at one end of the guide housing ( 10 f ) attached deflection encapsulation means ( 16 f) is housed in such a way that this at least one deflection means ( 78 f; 132 f) can be assembled in advance in the respective end region of the guide housing ( 10 f) independently of the deflection cap selector means ( 16 f), to which The associated strand means ( 74 f) or masking tape ( 130 f) can be placed on the mounted deflection means ( 78 f; 132 f) and the respective deflection encapsulation means ( 16 f) can then be attached. 25. Linear guide unit according to claim 24, characterized in that a strand deflection means ( 78 f) and a masking tape deflection means ( 132 f) can be mounted independently of one another in an end region of the guide housing ( 10 f).