JP2000346065A - Adjustable linear and curved line guide device and curved line guide device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an adjustable linear and curved line guide device in which a slider can be moved along curved parts of a raceway rail continuously even when the raceway rail has curved parts bent in the different directions. SOLUTION: An adjustable linear and curved line guide device has a raceway rail having a linear part and a curved part 1B arcuately formed with specified radius of curvature, a number of balls 3 arranged in sectionally saddle-shape so as to bridge the receway rail and endlessly circulate, and a slider 2 moved along the raceway rail accompanied with rolling of the balls 3. A load rolling groove 43a is linearly formed on the slider 2 for rolling the balls 3, while the width of the raceway rail of the curved part 1B is set smaller than that of the linear part.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention guides a movable object in a slide section of various machine tools, industrial robots, parts transport systems, etc., on a transport path in which a linear section and a curved section are mixed. The present invention relates to a straight / curve free guiding device that can guide a vehicle along a conveyance path composed of only a curved portion.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a manufacturing line or the like in a factory, there is no problem if the respective processing steps can be arranged in a straight line. In some cases, the transport direction of a barrel article must be changed between two adjacent processing steps. In this case, the transport direction of the article is generally changed by using a pallet changer or the like, but there is a disadvantage that an installation space and an installation cost of the pallet changer are required.

On the other hand, as means for changing the conveying direction of an article without using a pallet changer, there is a straight / curve free guiding apparatus capable of continuously guiding an article along a locus in which a straight line and a curve are mixed. (JP-A-63-2933
No. 19, JP-A-6-50333) and a curve guide device capable of continuously guiding along an annular trajectory (JP-A-63-186028) are conventionally known. .

[0004] Each of these straight / curved guide devices or curved guide devices is disposed so as to straddle a track rail in which a ball rolling groove is formed in the longitudinal direction, and straddle the track rail. In addition, a slider in which a load rolling groove facing each rolling groove of the track rail and an infinite circulation path of a ball including the load rolling groove are formed, and the slider rolls in the infinite circulation path of the slider, It is composed of a number of balls that apply a load between the rolling groove of the track rail and the load rolling groove of the slider, and the slider moves freely along the track rail according to the rolling of the ball. It is configured to be able to.

[0005] In the former linear / curve free guide device, the load rolling groove of the slider is linearly formed in a linear load region, and the curved load region is formed in an arc shape in accordance with the curvature of the track rail. In the straight part of the track rail, the load acting on the slider is applied by a ball rolling in a linear load area, and in the curved part, the load acting on the slider is applied by a ball rolling in a curved load area. It is configured as follows. As a result, even when a straight section and a curved section are mixed in the track rail, the slider can continuously move the straight section and the curved section along the track rail.

In the latter curvilinear guide device, the track rail is formed in an arc shape having a predetermined curvature, while the load rolling groove of the slider is formed in an arc shape matching the curvature of the track rail. All the balls interposed between the loaded rolling groove and the rolling groove of the track rail roll while applying the load acting on the slider, so that the slider can perform a curved motion along the track rail. It is configured as follows.

[0007]

However, in these conventional straight / curve free guide devices and curved guide devices,
By forming the load rolling grooves of the slider in an arc shape in accordance with the curvature of the track rail, the slider can move along the curved portion of the track rail. Therefore, there is a problem in that the slider of the linear guide device, which has been conventionally produced in large numbers and sold on the market, cannot be diverted as it is, and the production cost increases. In addition, since a different slider is required for each curvature of the track rail, there is also a problem that it takes time to process the slider and to manage the product.

Further, when the load rolling groove of the slider is machined in an arc shape, the bending direction of the curved portion is limited to only one direction, and although the article can be conveyed in an annular shape, two different bending directions having different bending directions are provided. There is a problem that articles cannot be transported along a locus including a curved portion, for example, an S-shaped locus.

On the other hand, it is considered that there is no problem if the article can be conveyed during each processing step in the manufacturing line, and it is considered that a very large load-loading capability is not required in the curved portion of the track rail. Among them, it is necessary to reliably receive the processing force acting on the article by the guide device, and the linear portion of the track rail is required to have a greater load-loading capacity than the curved portion. However, in the above-described conventional straight / curve guide device, since the load rolling grooves formed in the slider are divided into a linear load region and a linear load region, the load bearing in the linear portion of the track rail is reduced. The ability is reduced. There is a disadvantage that the processing force acting on the article cannot be sufficiently loaded.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to allow a slider of a linear guide device to be diverted as it is,
Does not require a different slider for each track rail curvature,
Straight lines that can be produced at lower cost compared to conventional
It is to provide a curved guide device and a curved guide device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a slider that continuously moves along these track portions along the track rail even when the track rail has two curved portions that bend in different directions. It is possible to
The slider can move continuously between the straight part and the curved part without sacrificing the load-carrying capacity of the straight part of the track rail even when the straight part and the curved part are mixed in the track rail. It is an object of the present invention to provide a possible straight and curved guide device.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a straight / curve free guiding device according to the present invention includes a straight portion and a curved portion formed in an arc shape with a predetermined radius of curvature. A track rail in which ball rolling grooves are respectively formed along the longitudinal direction of the track rail, and is formed so as to straddle the track rail formed in a substantially saddle-shaped cross section, and is provided in each rolling groove of the track rail. A slider in which an infinite circulation path of a ball including the opposing load rolling groove and the ball including the load rolling groove is formed, and rolling in the infinite circulation path of the slider,
A plurality of balls that apply a load between the rolling grooves of the track rail and the loaded rolling grooves of the slider, and each of the loaded rolling grooves provided on the slider is formed in a straight line.
The width dimension of the track rail in the curved section is set smaller than that in the straight section.

According to the linear / curved guide device of the present invention, the load rolling groove provided in the slider is not formed in an arc shape corresponding to the curvature of the curved portion of the track rail.
The track rail is formed in a straight line corresponding to the rolling groove of the straight portion. However, in the present invention, since the width dimension of the curved portion of the track rail is set smaller than that of the straight portion, the rolling groove of the track rail is circular and the load rolling groove of the slider is linear. However, such a slider can be engaged with the curved portion of the track rail, and can move freely along the curved portion.

When the slider is moving along the curved portion of the track rail, the ball has an arc-shaped rolling groove formed along the longitudinal direction of the track rail and a linear load rolling groove formed on the slider. Between the load rolling grooves while applying a load. Accordingly, a large number of balls rolling in each load rolling groove simultaneously load only a part of the load between the rolling groove of the track rail and the loaded rolling groove of the slider.

According to the linear / curved guide device of the present invention, the load rolling groove provided in the slider is formed not in an arc shape but in a linear shape. Can be used as it is, and the trouble of machining the load rolling groove into an arc shape according to the curvature of the track rail is not required. Therefore,
It is possible to provide a linear / curved guide device at extremely low cost. In addition, since the load rolling grooves formed in a straight line have no directionality, even when two curved portions having different bending directions are mixed in the track rail, the slider can maintain these curved portions. The part can be moved continuously.

Furthermore, according to such a linear / curved guide device of the present invention, in the linear portion of the track rail, all balls rolling on the load rolling groove of the slider abut against the rolling groove of the track rail. Therefore, the load-carrying capacity of the slider is not impaired as in the curved portion where only some of the balls are in contact, and even when a large load is applied to the slider, it must be sufficiently loaded. Can be done.

In the present invention, as long as the rolling groove of the ball on the track rail side is formed on the side surface of the track rail, a row of balls rolling on the load rolling groove of the slider is simultaneously tracked. Since there is no contact with the arc-shaped rolling groove on the rail side, such a rolling groove may be formed in the same manner as the rolling groove of the conventional curve guide device without performing any special processing. Since the side surface of the and the arc-shaped rolling grooves formed there can be ground simultaneously,
Such a track rail can be easily manufactured.
However, when an upward rolling groove is formed on the upper surface of the track rail, special processing is required for the rolling groove. That is, since the downward load rolling groove on the slider side facing the upward rolling groove on the track rail side is formed in a straight line, the upward rolling groove is formed of a row of rollers rolling down the downward load rolling groove on the slider. It is necessary to form the ball in such a width that the ball can contact at the same time.

On the other hand, in the straight / curved guide device of the present invention, since the slider can freely move between the straight portion and the curved portion of the track rail, even if the track rail is constituted only by the curved portion, the slider can be moved. It is possible to move freely along the annular track rail. That is, the linear / curved guide device of the present invention can be grasped as a curved guide device by focusing only on the curved portion of the track rail.

Further, as described above, in the straight / curved guide device of the present invention, since the width of the straight portion of the track rail is different from the width of the curved portion, the straight portion and the curved portion of the track rail are separated. It is preferable to provide an intermediate rail to be connected, so that the width dimension of the track rail changes continuously in this intermediate rail.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a straight / curve free guiding apparatus to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a track rail provided on a fixed portion such as a bed, and reference numeral 2 denotes a slider that can move freely along the track rail 1. The track rail 1 connects the linear guide rail 1A formed linearly, the curved guide rail 1B formed in an arc shape with a predetermined curvature, and connects the linear guide rail 1A and the curved guide rail 1B. The slider 2 can be freely moved on these rails 1A, 1B, 1C without limitation.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the linear guide rail 1A and the slider 2 assembled thereto, and FIG. 3 is a front sectional view of the linear guide rail 1A viewed from the axial direction. The linear guide rail 1A is formed in a substantially rectangular cross section.
A total of four ball rolling grooves 10a and 10b in which the ball 3 rolls are formed along the longitudinal direction. These ball rolling grooves 10a and 10b are formed on both side surfaces and both edges of the upper surface of the linear guide rail 1, and the ball rolling grooves 10a located on both side surfaces are directed downward by 30 ° from the left and right direction in FIG. On the other hand, the ball rolling groove 10b on the upper surface is formed vertically upward. A bolt mounting hole 11 is formed in the linear guide rail 1A at an appropriate interval in the longitudinal direction, and the linear guide rail 1A is fixed to a fixing portion by a fixing bolt (not shown) inserted into the bolt mounting hole 11. Fixed.

On the other hand, the slider 2 has a moving block 4 having a mounting surface 41 of a movable body such as a table and a tap hole 42 into which a fixing bolt of the movable body is screwed. The cover 5 is fixed to the moving block 4 so that an infinite circulation path of the ball 3 is provided in the slider. . The lid 5 is provided with a seal member 6 that slides on the track rail 1 to prevent dust and the like adhering to the track rail 1 from entering the slider 2 as the slider 2 moves. Preventing.

First, the moving block 4 includes a horizontal portion 4a on which a mounting surface 41 is formed, and a pair of skirt portions 4b, 4b hanging from the horizontal portion 4a. The four load rolling grooves 43 facing the ball rolling grooves 10a and 10b of the linear guide rail 1A are provided on the lower surface side of 4a and the inner surface side of each skirt portion 4b.
a, 43b are formed linearly. In addition, each of the load rolling grooves 43a,
Ball return holes 44a, 44b corresponding to the respective ball rolling holes 43a, 43b and corresponding ball return holes 44a, 43b are formed by U-shaped direction change paths formed in the lid 5. 44b to form an infinite ball circulation path.

Thus, the ball rolling grooves 10a and 10b of the linear guide rail 1A and the load rolling grooves 4 of the moving block 4 are formed.
The ball 3 which has applied a load between the balls 3a and 43b,
With the movement of the slider 2, the load rolling grooves 43a, 43
b, the vehicle is released from the load and enters the direction change path of one of the lids 5 and moves in the no-load state in the direction opposite to the rolling direction in the loaded rolling grooves 43a and 43b. Ball return holes 44a, 44b of block 4
To roll. Further, the ball 3 which has finished rolling in the ball return holes 44a and 44b enters again between the linear guide rail 1A and the moving block 4 via the direction changing path 51 of the other lid 5 while applying a load. The load rolling grooves 43a,
Roll 43b.

Ball holding plates 45 and 46 are attached to the lower end of each sleeve 4b and the lower surface of the horizontal portion 4a of the moving block 4, respectively. The ball holding plates 45 and 46 are formed by press molding of a metal plate, injection molding of a hard synthetic resin, or the like. When the slider 3 is removed from the track rail 1, the balls 2 rolling in the ball rolling grooves 41 are used as the sliders. 3 is prevented from falling off.

FIG. 4 shows a rolling state and a circulating state of the ball 3 when the slider 2 is moving along the linear guide rail 1A, and is formed on both side surfaces of the linear guide rail 1A. The drawing shows the ball 3 rolling in the rolling groove 10a. In addition, about the ball 3 rolling in the rolling groove 10b formed in the upper surface of the linear guide rail 1A,
The rolling state and the circulation state are substantially the same.

As described above, the pair of lids 5 fixed to the front and rear end faces of the moving block 4 have the load rolling grooves 43a,
A direction change path 51 corresponding to 43b is formed, and the slider 2 has an infinite circulation path for the ball 3 as shown in the figure by fixing the lid 5 to the moving block 4. Here, the rolling grooves 10a, 10
b is formed linearly along the longitudinal direction of the linear guide rail 1A, and the load rolling grooves 43a, 43b of the slider 2 opposed to the rolling grooves 10a, 10b are also formed linearly. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, all the balls 3 rolling in the load rolling grooves 43a and 43b at the same time.
Is also in contact with the rolling grooves 10a and 10b of the linear guide rail 1A. That is, while the slider 2 is moving along the linear guide rail 1A, the rolling groove 1 on the track rail 1 side is used.
0a, 10b and load rolling grooves 43a, 43 on the slider 4 side.
Even if a large load is applied to the slider 2 without the ball 3 playing without applying a load to the slider b, the slider 2 is smoothly moved by reliably receiving the load. Can be done.

FIG. 5 is a front sectional view showing the curved guide rail 1B and the slider 2 assembled thereto. The curved guide rail 1B is formed to have substantially the same cross-sectional shape as the linear guide rail, and has a predetermined curvature R in the longitudinal direction.
A rolling groove 12a is formed on both sides of the linear guide rail 1A. The rolling groove 12a is continuous with the rolling grooves 10a formed on both sides of the linear guide rail 1A. A rolling groove 12b is formed which is continuous with the rolling groove 10b formed on the upper surface.

[0029] However, if because the curved guide rail 1B formed at a predetermined curvature, and the width dimension L ₂ of such curved guide rail 1B equal to the width L ₁ of the straight guide rail 1A is There is a concern that the inner diameter side surface of the curved guide rail 1B may interfere with the skirt portion 4b and the lid 5 of the slider 2. Therefore, the width L ₂ of the curved guide rail 1B is set smaller than the width L ₁ of the straight guide rail 1A. For comparison, in the figure 5 it is depicted a cross-section of the straight guide rail 1A by the dashed line, the width dimension of the width of the curved guide rail 1B L ₂ the straight guide rail 1A L ₁
In forming the guide rail 1 smaller than that, only the inner side surface of the curved guide rail 1B may be ground as shown in FIG. 5, or as shown in FIG. May be ground.

FIG. 6 shows a rolling state and a circulating state of the ball 3 when the slider 2 moves along the curved guide rail 1B, and is formed on both side surfaces of the curved guide rail 1B. The drawing shows the ball 3 rolling in the rolling groove 12a. Rolling groove 12a is curved guide rail 1B
Since the load rolling groove 43a of the slider 2 facing the rolling groove 12a is formed in a straight line, the load rolling groove 43a opposed to the rolling groove 12a is formed as shown in FIG.
On the inner diameter side of the curved guide rail 1B, the load rolling groove 4
Only the ball 3 rolling near both ends of 3a is in the rolling groove 12a.
On the other hand, on the outer diameter side of the curved guide rail 1B, only the ball rolling substantially at the center of the load rolling groove 43a is in contact with the rolling groove 12a. That is, while the slider 2 is moving along the curved guide rail 1B,
Only a part of the ball 3 rolling in the load rolling groove 43a of the slider 2 receives a load, and the other balls 3 play with no load. Curved guide rail 1
Depending on the curvature of B, it is assumed that all the balls 3 rolling in the load rolling groove 43a are in contact with the rolling groove 12a of the curved guide rail 1B, but even in such a case,
Some of the balls 3 are playing with almost no load. In addition, the rolling groove 12a of the curved guide rail 1B is thus provided.
Even if the ball 3 plays without contacting the ball, the ball 3 is mounted between the load rolling groove 43a and the rolling groove 12 because the ball holding plate 46 is attached to the slider 2. You won't fall off.

FIG. 7 shows the rolling state of the ball 3 in the load rolling groove 43b formed in the horizontal portion 4a of the slider 2, and is seen through the slider 2 from above the curved guide rail 1B. This is shown. Here, while the load rolling groove 43b of the slider 2 is formed linearly, the rolling groove 12b of the curved guide rail 1B opposed thereto is formed.
Are formed in an arc shape, so that the rolling grooves 12
When b is formed to have the same width as the rolling groove 12a formed on the side surface of the curved guide rail and the load rolling groove 43b, the balls rolling in the load rolling groove 43b on the slider 2 side will be described. , A part of which comes into contact with the inside of the rolling groove 12b, while the others protrude from the rolling groove 12b and are curved guide rails 1B.
And the ball 3 cannot be smoothly circulated in the endless circulation path of the slider 2.

For this reason, as shown in FIG. 7, the rolling groove 12b formed on the upper surface of the curved guide rail 1B is provided with such a load rolling so that all the balls 3 rolling in the load rolling groove 43b can be simultaneously contacted. The groove width d is larger than the running groove 43b. FIG. 8 shows the load rolling groove 43b on the slider 2 side.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing a contact state of a ball 3 between the ball 3 and a rolling groove 12b on a curved guide rail 1B side. The solid line in the drawing indicates the contact state in section α-α of FIG. 7, and the dashed line indicates the contact state in section β-β. Rolling groove 1
2b is formed wider than the load rolling groove 43b,
Further, since the ball 3 is formed in an arc shape having a curvature in the left-right direction in FIG.
3b, the contact position with respect to the rolling groove 12b changes to the left and right, but the load rolling groove 43b is always loaded while a load is applied between the slider and the curved guide rail.
Will be rolling.

As described above, in the guide device of the present embodiment, the width of the curved guide rail 1B is set smaller than that of the linear guide rail 1A, and the rolling of the ball 3 on the upper surface of the track rail 1 is performed. If a running groove is required, the rolling groove 12b on the upper surface of the curved guide rail 1B
Is formed to be larger than the width of the load rolling groove 43b on the slider 2 side, so that the slider 2 can be used as the linear guide rail 1A and the curved guide rail 1B while maintaining the structure of the conventional linear guide device. It can be freely moved between.

However, when the slider 2 moves along the curved guide rail 1B, the number of the balls 3 contacting the rolling grooves 12a on the side surface of the curved guide rail 1B depends on the number of balls 3 on the side surface of the linear guide rail 1A. Since the number of balls 3 contacting the running groove 10a is smaller than that, the load-carrying capacity of the slider 2 in the curved portion of the track rail 1 cannot be degraded. Therefore, even if a large load is applied to the slider 2 in the linear portion, the load can be sufficiently applied to the slider 2.

According to the guide device of the present embodiment, the load rolling groove 43 of the slider 2 is provided.
a, 43b are formed in a straight line and have no directionality, so that the slider 2 can be connected to the curved guide rail 1B without obstacle even if the curved direction of the curved guide rail 1B is left or right. It is possible to move along. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 9, the slider 2 can be freely moved along the S-shaped track rail 1 configured by combining two curved guide rails 1B having different bending directions. Further, the curved guide rails 1B existing in the continuous track rails 1 do not all need to be formed in an arc shape with the same curvature, and the slider can be freely moved even when curved rails having different curvatures are combined. It is possible to do.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10, a curved guide rail 1B formed with a constant curvature is connected to two rail pieces 16,
17, one of the rail pieces 17 is rotated by 180 ° and then combined with the other rail piece 16, thereby forming the S-shaped track rail 1.
The slider 2 can be freely moved along the track rail 1.

FIG. 11 shows an intermediate rail 1C connecting the straight guide rail 1A and the curved guide rail 1B. The track rail 1 can be formed by connecting the linear guide rail 1A and the curved guide rail 1B without using the intermediate rail 1C. However, as described above, the width of the curved guide rail 1B is limited to the linear guide. The width of the rail 1A is set smaller than the width of the rail 1A.
The rolling groove 12b of B is the rolling groove 10b of the linear guide rail 1A.
Since the curved guide rail 1B and the linear guide rail 1A are directly connected to each other, the smooth movement of the slider 2 between these rails may be slightly impaired. For this reason, in this embodiment, an intermediate rail 1C is interposed between the linear guide rail 1A and the curved guide rail 1B so that the slider 2 is smoothly transferred between the linear guide rail 1A and the curved guide rail 1B. Make up.

The intermediate rail 1C is a linear guide rail 1.
A is formed linearly with substantially the same cross-sectional shape as A, and ball rolling grooves are formed which are respectively continuous with the rolling grooves 10a and 10b of the linear guide rail 1A and the rolling grooves 12a and 12b of the curved guide rail 1B. I have. Since the width dimension of the curved guide rail 1B is set smaller than the width dimension of the linear guide rail 1A, the side surface 14 of the intermediate rail 1C that is continuous with the inner diameter side surface of the curved guide rail 1B has one point in FIG. As shown by the chain line, the end portion on the curved guide rail 1B side is cut diagonally, and the width is gradually reduced from the straight guide rail 1A side to the curved guide rail 1B side. Thereby, the linear guide rail 1
The rolling groove 10a formed on the side surface of the curved guide rail 1
Continuous with the rolling groove 12a formed on the side surface of B,
The ball can smoothly roll between the rolling groove 10a and the rolling groove 12a.

Also, as shown in FIG.
On the upper surface of C, a ball rolling groove 13b continuous with the rolling groove 10b of the linear guide rail 1A and the rolling groove 12b of the curved guide rail 1B is formed, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. Ball rolling groove 13b is curved guide rail 1B
The width is gradually increased at the end on the side, and the rolling grooves 10b and the rolling grooves 12b having different widths are connected without any step. Thereby, the ball rolling in the rolling groove 12b of the curved guide rail,
When rolling into the rolling groove 10b of the linear guide rail narrower than the rolling groove 12b, the slider can be smoothly moved from the curved portion of the track rail to the straight portion without being caught. ing.

Next, FIG. 14 shows a second embodiment of a straight / curve free guiding apparatus to which the present invention is applied. In the figure, reference numeral 7 denotes a track rail, and reference numeral 8 denotes a slider. The basic structures of the track rail 7 and the slider 8 are substantially the same as those in the first embodiment. However, track rail 7
Ball rolling grooves 71a, 71b are formed on both sides of the track rail 7 at two upper and lower sides, and the upper ball rolling groove 71a is directed upward at an inclination angle of 45 ° and the lower ball rolling groove 71a, 71b. 71b is formed downward at an inclination angle of 45 °. The load rolling grooves 81a and 81b of the slider 8 are also formed at angles corresponding to the ball rolling grooves 71a and 71b.

FIG. 14 shows the linear portion of the track rail 7, that is, a state in which the slider 8 is assembled to the linear guide rail 7A. The curved guide rail 7B continuous with the linear guide rail 7A is the first type. As in the example,
The width dimension is set smaller than the linear guide rail 7A. FIG. 15 is a drawing in which the outline of the linear guide rail 7A is superimposed on the front sectional view of the curved guide rail 7B, and the dashed line in the figure indicates the outline of the linear guide rail 7A.

Also, in the linear / curved guide device of the second embodiment having the above-described configuration, similarly to the first embodiment, the width of the curved guide rail 7B is set to the linear guide rail 7A.
The slider 8 can freely move between the linear guide rails 7A and the curved guide rails 7B by setting smaller than that of the above.

In the above embodiment, the straight line to which the present invention is applied
Although the curved guide device has been described, even when the curved guide rails are combined to form an annular track rail, the slider can be freely moved along the track rail, and the curved guide device can be easily constructed. Can be configured. Therefore, a detailed description of the curve guide device of the present invention is omitted here.

In the present invention, since the load rolling grooves 43a and 43b provided in the slider 2 are formed in a straight line, the slider of the existing linear guide device is utilized as it is, and the linear / curve free guide device is used. In the above embodiment, the width of the curved guide rail 1B is reduced compared to that of the linear guide rail 1A, so that the slider of the linear guide device can move along the curved guide rail 1B as it is. It was configured as follows. However, depending on the curvature of the curved guide rail 1B, it is not possible to cope with such a reduction in the width of the curved guide rail 1B alone.
The skirt portion 4b or lid 5 of the slider 2 may interfere with the curved guide rail 1B. Therefore, in such a case, the length dimension of the slider 2 along the longitudinal direction of the track rail 1 is shortened, so that the curved guide rail 1
It is effective to prevent interference between B and the slider 2.

[0045]

As described above, according to the linear / curved guide device and the curved guide device of the present invention, it is sufficient that the load rolling groove provided in the slider is formed not in an arc but in a straight line. Therefore, the slider of the linear guide device which has been widely available in the market can be diverted as it is, and it is not necessary to machine such a load rolling groove in accordance with the curvature of the track rail. Can be produced.

Further, since the load rolling groove provided in the slider has no directionality, even if the track rail has two curved portions that bend in different directions from each other, even if the track rail has two curved portions, the load track has such a shape. It is possible for the slider to continuously move along these curved portions along the trajectory, and it is possible to guide the article freely along a trajectory with a high degree of freedom combining straight lines and curves, such as an S-shaped trajectory. Become.

Further, since the load rolling grooves provided in the slider are formed in a straight line, all the balls rolling in the load rolling grooves of the slider hit the track rail in the linear portion of the track rail. Since the load is applied in contact with the slider, sufficient load-loading capability can be given to the slider in such a straight section, and even when the straight section and the curved section are mixed in the track rail, the straight section of the track rail can be used. It is possible for the slider to be able to move continuously between the straight part and the curved part without sacrificing the load-bearing capacity of the part.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a first embodiment of a straight / curve free guiding device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a slider and a linear guide rail according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a front sectional view showing a state where the slider according to the first embodiment is assembled to the linear guide rail.

FIG. 4 is a plan sectional view showing a rolling state and a circulating state of a ball when the slider according to the first embodiment moves along a linear guide rail.

FIG. 5 is a front sectional view showing a state where the slider according to the first embodiment is assembled to the curved guide rail.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional plan view showing a rolling state and a circulating state of the ball when the slider according to the first embodiment moves along the curved guide rail.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a rolling state of a ball in a rolling groove formed on an upper surface of a curved guide rail.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view showing a rolling state of a ball between a rolling groove formed on an upper surface of a curved guide rail and a loaded rolling groove of a slider.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing an example of a straight / curve free guide device which can be configured by combining a straight guide rail and a curved guide rail according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing an S-shaped rail formed by bisecting a curved guide rail.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing an intermediate rail according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged plan view showing a portion A in FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged plan view showing a portion B in FIG. 10;

FIG. 14 is a front sectional view showing a straight / curve free guidance device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged sectional view showing a main part of a curved guide rail according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the curved guide rail is ground from both side surfaces and finished to a predetermined width.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Track rail, 1A ... Linear guide rail, 1B ... Curved guide rail, 1C ... Intermediate rail, 2 ... Slider, 3 ... Ball, 10a, 10b ... Rolling groove, 43a, 43b ... Load rolling groove

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A track rail including a straight portion and a curved portion formed in an arc shape with a predetermined radius of curvature, and having ball rolling grooves formed along the longitudinal direction of both side surfaces, and a substantially saddle cross-section. A load rolling groove opposed to each rolling groove of the track rail and an infinite circulation path of a ball including the load rolling groove were formed while being formed so as to straddle the track rail. A linear / curve free guide comprising a slider and a number of balls that roll in the endless circulation path of the slider and apply a load between the rolling groove of the track rail and the loaded rolling groove of the slider. In the apparatus, each load rolling groove provided in the slider is formed in a straight line, and the width dimension of the track rail in the curved portion is set smaller than that of the straight portion.・ A curving guide device. 2. When the slider moves along a curved portion of the track rail, the ball is formed by an arc-shaped rolling groove formed along the longitudinal direction of the track rail and a linear load rolling groove provided in the slider. The linear / curve free guide device according to claim 1, wherein a load is applied between the guide device and the guide. 3. When the slider moves along a curved portion of a track rail, a large number of balls rolling in each load rolling groove of the slider are only a part of the balls rolling with the rolling groove of the track rail. 2. The guide device according to claim 1, wherein a load is applied to the load rolling groove. 4. An upward rolling groove of a ball is formed along the longitudinal direction on the upper surface of the track rail, while a downward load rolling groove of the ball facing the upper surface of the track rail is formed on the slider. The upward rolling groove in the curved portion of the track rail is formed to have such a width that all the balls rolling on the downward load rolling groove of the slider can contact at the same time. 4. The guide device according to any one of claims 3 to 3, wherein the guide device is freely adjustable. 5. The guide device according to claim 1, wherein the track rail includes two curved portions having different bending directions. 6. The track rail according to claim 1, wherein the track rail is formed by combining a straight guide rail forming a straight portion and a curved guide rail forming a curved portion.
5. The guide device according to any one of claims 4 to 4, wherein the guide device is freely adjustable. 7. The track rail includes an intermediate rail connecting the linear guide rail and the curved guide rail, and the intermediate rail has a width from an end on the linear guide rail side to an end on the curved guide rail side. 7. The guide device according to claim 6, wherein changes continuously. 8. A curved guide rail which is formed in an arc shape with a predetermined radius of curvature, and in which ball rolling grooves are formed along the longitudinal direction of both side surfaces, and a curved guide rail which is formed in a substantially saddle-shaped cross section. A slider which is provided so as to straddle the guide rail, and in which a load rolling groove facing each rolling groove of the curved guide rail and an infinite circulation path of a ball including the load rolling groove are formed; A curved guide device having a number of balls that rolls in an infinite circulation path of a slider and applies a load between a rolling groove of the curved guide rail and a loaded rolling groove of the slider. Each of the provided load rolling grooves is formed in a straight line, and the ball includes an arc-shaped rolling groove formed along the longitudinal direction of the curved guide rail, and a linear load rolling groove provided in the slider. Load between Curve guide device according to claim. 9. A plurality of balls rolling in each of the load rolling grooves of the slider, only some of the balls apply a load between the rolling grooves of the curved guide rail and the load rolling grooves of the slider. 9. The curve guide device according to claim 8, wherein the curve guide is provided.