JP2001336507A - Sliding unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sliding unit capable of operating a moving element 19 smoothly and prolonging product life by reducing the distance between the shaft of a drive means 25 and the raceway shaft of a guide rail 3 to a required minimum, thus reducing moments acting on a guide block 27 and the guide rail 3. SOLUTION: The sliding unit includes the drive means 25; the moving element 19 brought into axial linear reciprocating movement by the drive means 25; the guide block 27 disposed in a storage space 26 provided in the moving element 19; the guide rail 3 axially movably engaging the guide block 27; and a stop member 30 for regulating the stroke end of the moving element 19. An opposite surface to the upper surface of the guide block 27 and another opposite surface 26b to the side face 27b of the guide block 27 age provided in the storage space 26 and a ribbed wall 29 for connection to the two opposite surfaces 26b is provided with an abutting surface 32 which abuts the stop member 30.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a slide unit used for driving equipment or transporting an object, and more particularly to a slide unit having a stop member for regulating a stroke end of a moving body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a slide unit of this kind, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2996291, in order to suppress the height of the entire slide unit, driving means and guide rails are arranged side by side in parallel with each other. The arrangements are known.

[0003] However, in this slide unit, the contact surface with the stop member for regulating the stroke end of the moving body is also arranged in a side-by-side manner between the moving body and the guide block. Minute, axis of drive means (center axis) and track axis of guide rail (center axis)
Are separated from each other, and the distance (interval) between the two is set to be large. If the axis of the driving means does not coincide with the track axis of the guide rail, a relatively large moment (= driving force × distance between the axis of the drive means and the track axis of the guide rail) is generated when the moving body moves. It acts on the guide rail, and as a result, the smooth movement of the moving body may be hindered. Further, since a large load acts on the engaging portion between the guide block and the guide rail, there is also a problem that the product life of the engaging portion is reduced.

[0004] When the driving means is large (when the thrust is large), it is not necessary to increase the cross section of the slide unit in order to provide a contact surface with the stop member. In order to provide the contact surface with the slide unit, the cross section of the slide unit must be enlarged, and thus miniaturization of the slide unit is prevented.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the foregoing, the present invention minimizes the distance between the drive means shaft and the guide rail track axis to minimize the moment acting on the guide block and guide rail. It is an object of the present invention to provide a slide unit that can be reduced in size, thereby allowing a moving body to operate smoothly and extending the life of a product.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a slide unit according to the present invention is provided with a driving means, a moving body which performs a linear reciprocating operation in the axial direction by the driving means, and provided on the moving body. A slide unit including a guide block disposed in a housing space, a guide rail that movably engages the guide block in an axial direction, and a stop member that regulates a stroke end of the moving body, In the housing space, a surface facing the upper surface and a surface facing the side surface of the guide block are provided, and a rib-like wall connected to the two facing surfaces is provided with a contact surface with the stop member. It is a feature.

A slide unit according to a second aspect of the present invention includes a guide block reciprocally mounted on a guide rail, a moving body connected to the guide block and provided with reciprocating drive means, A stop member that regulates a stroke end of the moving body, a recessed housing space that houses at least a part of the guide block is provided in the moving body, and the guide block housed in the housing space; The contact surface that contacts the stop member and the three members of the stop member are arranged in the axial direction.

In the slide unit according to the first aspect of the present invention having the above structure, a stroke adjusting mechanism is provided because the contact surface with the stop member overlaps the guide block in the axial direction. The size of the slide unit does not change between the case in which it is provided and the case in which it is not provided.

Further, since only the moving body and the guide block are interposed between the axis of the drive means and the track axis of the guide rail, the axis of the drive means and the track axis of the guide rail can be brought closer to each other. This makes it possible to reduce the moment acting on the guide block and the guide rail. Therefore, this makes it possible to smoothly operate the moving body to improve its operation characteristics, and to prolong the product life of the slide unit.

The rib-shaped wall receives an impact force at the time of collision with the stop member and a thrust of the driving means. However, since the strength is improved by connecting to the two opposing surfaces, a light Even if it is made of an aluminum alloy or the like which is excellent in workability, it is not necessary to make the rib-like wall thick, and it is not necessary to lengthen the slide unit in the axial direction.

Further, the present invention has the above-mentioned structure.
In the slide unit, the guide block accommodated in the accommodation space provided in the moving body, the contact surface that contacts the stop member, and the stop member are arranged in the axial direction. And the orbital axes of the guide rails can be brought closer to each other, whereby the moment acting on the guide block and the guide rail can be reduced. Therefore, this makes it possible to smoothly operate the moving body to improve its operation characteristics, and to prolong the product life of the slide unit.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front view of a slide unit 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a plan view of the slide unit 1, FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the slide unit 1, FIG. 4 is an enlarged left side view of the slide unit 1, and FIG. FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 2, and FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. FIG. 8 is an enlarged front view of the piston 7 partially cut away.

In the slide unit 1 according to the embodiment, first, a pair of end members 2 are fixed to the guide rail 3 by screw members 5 which penetrate through bolt holes 4 provided at both longitudinal ends of the guide rail 3 from the bottom surface. A cylinder tube 6 made of a non-magnetic material is installed between the pair of end members 2 in parallel with the guide rail 3. Both ends of the cylinder tube 6 are fitted into the pair of end members 2 with play.

A piston 7 is inserted inside the cylinder tube 6 so as to be reciprocally movable. The piston 7 has a plurality of driving magnets 8 having a hole formed in the center and an inner yoke 9.
Are alternately arranged in the axial direction to form a drive magnet row, and a pair of piston members 11 are fastened to both ends of a tie rod 10 inserted into the center hole of the drive magnet row to integrate them. . A ring-shaped sliding member 12 for keeping the driving magnet array coaxial with the cylinder tube 6 at a predetermined interval on a periphery of the piston member 11, and a piston seal 13 for maintaining airtightness between the cylinder tube 6 and the cylinder tube 6.
And a spanner hook 14 used for assembly is provided on the side adjacent to the inner yoke 9.

Each of the pair of end members 2 is provided with an O-ring 15 for maintaining airtightness with the cylinder tube 6 and a piping port 16 and an orifice 17 communicating with the cylinder tube 6. With these, the pressure fluid is supplied and discharged to and from the pressure chambers 18 on both sides of the piston 7 in the cylinder tube 6.

On the other hand, the moving body 19 which moves along the cylinder tube 6 has a magnet array fitted inside the cylinder tube 6, that is, a plurality of driven magnets 20 formed in a ring shape and an outer yoke 21. Are arranged alternately in the axial direction, and these are fitted in a state where they are sandwiched between holder members 22 at both ends, and are locked by engagement retaining rings 23. On the inner periphery of the holder member 22, a ring-shaped sliding member 23 for keeping the driven magnet row coaxial with the cylinder tube 6 at a predetermined interval, and dust adhering to the cylinder tube 6 by slidingly contacting the cylinder tube 6. A dust seal 24 that prevents foreign substances and foreign substances from entering the inside of the moving body 19 is mounted.

The inner yoke 9 and the outer yoke 2
1 are attracted to each other by magnetic force.
Is driven by a piston 7 which moves by being pressed by compressed air supplied into the cylinder tube 6. Accordingly, the rodless cylinder 25 is configured as a drive unit of the type that magnetically couples the piston 7 and the moving body 19.

The moving body 19 is provided with a recessed accommodation space 26 on the lower surface side and on the side facing the guide block 27. A guide block 27 that movably engages in the direction is provided. This guide block 27
Is fixed to the moving body 19 by a screw member 28 that penetrates the moving body 19 from above. Accordingly, the moving body 19 is thereby supported on the guide rail 3 so as to be movable in the axial direction.

In the accommodation space 26, the guide block 2 is provided.
7, an opposing surface 26a opposing the upper surface 27a, and the side surface 2
Opposed surfaces 26b opposing to each other are provided, and rib-shaped walls 29 connected to the two opposing surfaces 26a, 26b are provided at both ends of the moving body 19, respectively. Each of the pair of rib-shaped walls 29 is provided with a receiving member 31 having a contact surface 32 that contacts the stop member 30 at the stroke end. Also, a pair of end members 2
A screw hole 33 is formed substantially coaxially with the receiving member 31 so as to penetrate therethrough.
A space 34 in which the slide unit 1 can be embedded is provided, so that the slide unit 1 is not enlarged in the axial direction by the receiving member 31. In addition, a shock absorber 35 is screwed into the screw hole 33 as a kind of the stop member 30 so as to be able to advance and retreat. The shock absorber 35 is adjusted to a required position, and is fixed by a lock nut 36. Further, with the above configuration, the guide block 2 accommodated in the accommodation space 26 is provided.
7 and the shock absorber 35 serving as the stop member 30
The contact surface 32 of the receiving member 31 contacting the stop member 30 and the stop member 30 are arranged in a line in the axial direction.

The stop member 30 is not limited to the shock absorber 35, but may be a screw member having a rubber-like elastic member at the tip or a simple screw member. If it is not necessary to adjust the position of the stroke end of the moving body 19,
A contact surface with the receiving member 31 may be provided on the end member 2. That is, in this case, the end member 2 is the stop member 30.

A plurality of female screws 3 are provided on the upper surface of the moving body 19.
7 is provided, and the moving body 1 is
9 can fix a work or a tool. A round hole 38 and a long hole 3 for inserting a positioning pin provided on a work or a tool are also provided on the upper surface of the moving body 19.
The round hole 38 and the long hole 39 ensure the reproducibility of the mounting position when the work or the tool is removed from the moving body 19 and mounted again.

The pair of end members 2 and the guide rails 3 are respectively provided with mounting holes 40 and 41 for mounting the slide unit 1 on equipment or the like. In addition, one end member 2 is provided with a circular hole 42 provided on a gantry of equipment or the like for inserting a positioning pin, and the other end member 2
Is provided with a long hole 43 provided in a pedestal or the like of the equipment for inserting a positioning pin, and when the slide unit 1 is removed from the pedestal or the like of the equipment and reattached,
Reproducibility of the mounting position is ensured.

A non-magnetic rail member 44 is provided between the pair of end members 2 in parallel with the cylinder tube 6. The rail member 44 detects the position of the moving body 19 on the rail member 44. The magnetic proximity switch 45 is mounted movably in the axial direction. This magnetic proximity switch 45
Is for detecting a magnetic field of a permanent magnet 47 attached to the side surface of the moving body 19 by a small screw 46 and sending a signal to the outside.

Next, the operation of the slide unit 1 having the above configuration will be described.

The sectional view of FIG. 5 shows that compressed air as a working fluid is supplied from a compressed air supply source and a switching valve (not shown) to a pressure chamber 18 on the right side of FIG. Also, a state is shown in which the pressure chamber 18 on the left side in the figure is opened to the atmosphere through the orifice 17, the piping port 16 and the switching valve on the left side in the figure. In this state, the piston 7 is moved leftward in the figure by compressed air. The moving body 19 that is pressed and driven by the piston 7 is stopped when the receiving member 31 on the left side in the drawing comes into contact with the shock absorber 35 on the left side in the drawing. Near the stop position, one magnetic proximity switch 45 detects the magnetic field of the permanent magnet 47 and sends a signal to the outside. A linear ball bearing including a guide block 27 fixed to the moving body 19 and the guide rail 3 installed on a frame such as equipment supports external force acting on the moving body 19. Even if the rodless cylinder 25 is operated while the linear ball bearing supports an external force, the moving body 19 is smoothly displaced relative to the guide rail 3.

Next, by switching a switching valve (not shown),
The pressure chamber 1 on the left side of the drawing from the compressed air supply source and the switching valve via the piping port 16 and the orifice 17 on the left side of the drawing.
When compressed air, which is a working fluid, is supplied to the pressure chamber 8 and the pressure chamber 18 on the right side in the figure is opened to the atmosphere through the orifice 17, the piping port 16 and the switching valve on the right side in the figure, the piston 7 is compressed by the compressed air. The moving body 19 that is pressed in the direction and follows the piston 7 also moves rightward in the drawing. When the moving body 19 moves to near the stroke end, the moving body 19
After the plunger of the shock absorber 25 disposed on the end member 2 receives the receiving member 31 disposed on the end member 2 and absorbs the impact, the contact surface 32 provided on the receiving member 31 and the end surface of the shock absorber 35 come into contact with each other. The moving body 19 is stopped by the contact. Near the stop position, the other magnetic proximity switch 45 detects the magnetic field of the permanent magnet 47 and sends a signal to the outside.

The slide unit 1 having the above configuration has the following functions and effects.

That is, first, since only the moving body 19 and the guide block 27 are interposed between the axis of the rodless cylinder 25 as the driving means and the track axis of the guide rail 3, the rodless cylinder 25 and the track axis of the guide rail 3 can be brought close to each other, whereby the moment acting on the guide block 27 and the guide rail 3 can be reduced. Therefore, the moving body 19 can be smoothly operated to improve its operation characteristics, and the product life of the slide unit 1 can be extended.

The contact surface 3 of the receiving member 31 which is the contact surface with the shock absorber 35 as the stop member 30
2 is disposed so as to overlap with the guide block 27 disposed in the accommodation space 26 provided in the moving body 19 in the axial direction, so that the slide unit 1 is provided with and without the stroke adjusting mechanism. The size does not change. Therefore, the size of the slide unit 1 provided with the stroke adjusting mechanism can be reduced.

The rib-like wall 29 on which the impact force at the time of collision with the shock absorber 35 and the thrust of the rodless cylinder 25 acts acts on the two opposing surfaces 26a, 26a of the accommodation space 26.
This wall 29 has high strength because it is formed so as to be connected to 26b. Therefore, moving body 1
Even if 9 is made of an aluminum alloy or the like which is lightweight and excellent in workability, it is not necessary to form the wall 29 thick, so that it is not necessary to enlarge the slide unit 1 in the axial direction. Accordingly, the slide unit 1 having the stroke adjusting mechanism and further having the rib-shaped wall 29 can be downsized.

In the present invention, the driving means 25 is not limited to the rodless cylinder described in the embodiment, but may be a rodless cylinder in which the piston 7 and the moving body 19 are mechanically connected, or a double rod type. An air cylinder or the like may be used. Further, the drive source is not limited to the compressed air, and the same effect can be obtained even when a motor and a ball screw are combined. In the double rod type air cylinder, a piston is movably inserted in the moving body in the axial direction, and a hollow rod is provided between the piston and a pair of end members.

[0033]

The present invention has the following effects.

That is, in the slide unit according to the first aspect of the present invention having the above structure, only the moving body and the guide block are interposed between the axis of the driving means and the track axis of the guide rail. Because of the configuration, the axis of the driving means and the track axis of the guide rail can be brought closer to each other, and thereby the moment acting on the guide block and the guide rail can be reduced. Therefore, this makes it possible to smoothly operate the moving body, improve its operating characteristics, and extend the product life of the slide unit.

Further, since the contact surface, which is the contact surface with the stop member, is disposed so as to axially overlap with the guide block disposed in the accommodation space provided in the moving body, the stroke adjusting mechanism is provided. There is no change in the size of the slide unit between the case where the unit is provided and the case where the unit is not provided. Therefore, the size of the slide unit provided with the stroke adjusting mechanism can be reduced.

Further, since a rib-shaped wall on which an impact force at the time of collision with the stop member and a thrust of the driving means acts is formed so as to be connected to the two opposing surfaces of the housing space, this wall is formed. The strength is relatively large. Therefore, even if the movable body is made of an aluminum alloy or the like which is lightweight and has excellent workability, it is not necessary to form the wall thick, and it is not necessary to enlarge the slide unit in the axial direction. Therefore, this also makes it possible to reduce the size of the slide unit having the stroke adjusting mechanism and further having the rib-like wall.

Further, the present invention has the above-mentioned structure.
In the slide unit, the guide block accommodated in the accommodation space provided in the moving body, the contact surface that contacts the stop member, and the stop member are arranged in the axial direction. And the orbital axis of the guide rail can be brought closer to each other, whereby the moment acting on the guide block and the guide rail can be reduced. Therefore, this allows the moving body to operate smoothly, thereby improving its operating characteristics and extending the product life of the slide unit.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front view of a slide unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the slide unit.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the slide unit.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged left side view of the slide unit.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 2;

7 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged front view of the piston with a portion cut away.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Slide unit 2 End member 3 Guide rail 4 Bolt hole 5, 28 Screw member 6 Cylinder tube 7 Piston 8 Drive magnet 9 Inner yoke 10 Tie rod 11 Piston member 12, 23 Sliding member 13 Piston seal 14 Spanner hook 15 O-ring 16 Piping port 17 Orifice 18 Pressure chamber 19 Moving body 20 Driven magnet 21 Outer yoke 22 Holder member 24 Dust seal 25 Rodless cylinder (drive means) 26 Housing space 26a, 26b Opposing surface 27 Guide block 27a Upper surface 27b Side surface 29 Rib-shaped wall Reference Signs List 30 stop member 31 receiving member 32 contact surface 33 screw hole 34 space 35 shock absorber 36 lock nut 37 female screw 38, 42 round hole 39, 43 long hole 40, 41 mounting hole 44 rail member 45 magnetism Air proximity switch 46 Child screw 47 Permanent magnet

Claims (2)

[Claims] And a driving means (25) for driving the driving means (2).
The moving body (1) that performs a linear reciprocating operation in the axial direction by (5)
9) and an accommodation space (2) provided in the moving body (19).
6) a guide block (27), a guide rail (3) for movably engaging the guide block (27) in the axial direction, and a stop for regulating a stroke end of the moving body (19). A slide unit (1) including a member (30), a surface (26a) facing the upper surface (27a) of the guide block (27) and a side surface (27) in the housing space (26).
b) and a rib-shaped wall (29) connected to the two opposed surfaces (26a) and (26b).
A slide surface, wherein a contact surface (32) with the stop member (30) is provided on the slide unit. 2. A moving body (27) connected to the guide block (27) and reciprocatingly driving means (25), the guide block (27) being reciprocally mounted on the guide rail (3). 19) and the moving object (1)
9) a stop member (30) for regulating the stroke end, and a recessed accommodation space (26) for accommodating at least a part of the guide block (27) is provided in the movable body (19); The guide block (27) housed in the housing space (26), the contact surface (32) that comes into contact with the stop member (30), and the stop member (30) are arranged in the axial direction. A slide unit.