JP2002048137A - Lubricating system for guide apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To supply a minimum amount of lubricating oil to a sliding surface between a guide body and a travel body of a guide apparatus in proportion to a relative motion of the guide body and the travel body. SOLUTION: The guide apparatus comprising: a case 21 fixed on the travel body 3 in such a way that an opening end thereof is made close contact with a sliding surface 36 of the guide body 2; a flexible sliding body 22 so held in the case 21 that one end thereof is made slidably contact with the sliding surface 36 of the guide body 2; and a lubricating oil absorption body 27 which is disposed at the position to be pressed upon the flexible sliding body 22 in the case 21 and supplies the lubricating oil 35 to the sliding surface 36 of the guide body 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a guide device, such as a linear guide device, which applies a minimum amount of lubricating oil to a sliding surface between a guide body and a moving body which perform a reciprocating motion. It relates to a lubrication device that can be supplied in proportion to the movement.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 9, a linear guide device 1 of this type includes a guide rail 2 and a moving body 3 which is movably mounted on the guide rail 2 and moves along the guide rail 2.
And The guide rail 2 has transfer grooves 4 extending in the longitudinal direction on both sides of the upper surface and upper portions of the both sides. The moving body 3 has a main body 5 and end caps 6 and 6 fixed to both ends of the main body 5. A track corresponding to the rolling groove 4 provided on the guide rail 2 is formed on the moving body 3, and a ball bearing array is arranged on each track so as to move along the rolling groove 4.

That is, a groove 7 for forming a load trajectory and a groove 8 for forming a return trajectory are formed in the main body 3a of the moving body 3 as shown in FIG.
Has a groove 7 that forms a load track formed in the main body 3a.
A connecting track 9 is formed to connect the groove 8 forming the return track. Therefore, when the main body 5 and the end caps 6, 6 are connected, four endless tracks are formed on the moving body 3. A number of ball bearings 10 are arranged in rows on each endless track.

A lubricating device for supplying lubricating oil to one end cap 6 of the linear guide device 1 is provided on the sliding surface between each rolling groove 4 of the guide rail 2 and the ball bearing 10 of the moving body 3. 11 is attached.

The lubricating device 11 comprises a lubricating oil occluding body 12 made of a porous resin containing a lubricating oil, a side seal 13 for sealingly surrounding the lubricating oil occluding body 12, and a protective plate 14. , Lubricating oil storage body 12 to guide rail 2
The lubricating oil contained in the lubricating oil storage body 12 is supplied to the sliding surface between the guide rail 2 and the moving body 3 by slidingly contacting the sliding surface between the rolling groove 4 and the ball bearing 10 of the moving body 3. I am trying to do it.

[0006]

In the lubricating apparatus, the lubricating oil is contained in the porous resin constituting the lubricating oil storage body by sliding the lubricating oil storage body on the sliding surface between the guide rail and the moving body. Oil is supplied to the sliding surface between the guide rail and the moving body, and the amount of lubricating oil supplied varies depending on the contact pressure between the lubricating oil storage body and the guide rail. The contact pressure with the guide rail and the moving body is also reduced with the use of the guide rail and the moving body.

In the above lubricating device, when a large amount of lubricating oil is stored in the lubricating oil storage, a large amount of lubricating oil is supplied to the sliding surface between the guide rail and the moving body, and the lubricating oil and the guide rail are moved. If the contact pressure is low, a small amount of lubricating oil will be supplied and the amount of lubricating oil supplied cannot be controlled, so the lubricating oil stored in the lubricating oil storage will slide on the sliding surface between the guide rail and the moving body. There is a problem that it cannot be supplied in proportion to the distance.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to provide a lubricating apparatus capable of supplying a minimum amount of lubricating oil to a sliding surface between a guide body and a moving body in proportion to relative motion. And

[0009]

According to the present invention, there is provided a lubricating device for a guide device, wherein a case fixed to a moving body such that an open end is close to a sliding surface of the guide, and one end of which is a sliding surface of the guide. A sliding body supported in the case so as to be in sliding contact with the casing, and a lubricating oil occluding body disposed in the case and supplying lubricating oil to the sliding surface of the guide body. When moving in one direction, the one end portion of the flexible sliding body that slides on the sliding surface of the guide deforms in the direction of pressing the lubricating oil occluding body, and the flexible sliding body occupies the lubricating oil occluding body. By pressing the body, the lubricating oil stored in the lubricating oil storage body is supplied to the sliding surface of the guide, and the minimum lubricating oil on the sliding surface between the guide and the moving body is proportional to the relative motion. Supplied in quantity.

Further, in the lubricating device of the guide device of the present invention, the inside of the case is partitioned into two chambers by a flexible sliding body, and the lubricating oil occluding body is disposed in one of the chambers. It is possible to provide a seal piece which is disposed on one wall surface and one end of which is in sliding contact with the sliding surface of the guide body, or provide a case with an oil supply device connected to a lubricating oil tank.

Further, the lubricating device of the guide device according to the present invention provides a flexible sliding member with a passage communicating from the lubricating oil storage side chamber to another chamber, or a bifurcated lip at one end of the flexible sliding member. A part can be provided so that one lip faces the lubricating oil storage body side chamber and the other lip faces the other chamber, or a check valve can be provided between the lubricating oil tank and the lubricating device.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, the same members as those in FIG. 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a linear guide device 1 equipped with a lubricating device 20 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 21, and a flexible sliding body 22 disposed inside the case 21.

The above-mentioned flexible sliding body 22 moves the inner space of the case 21 into two chambers 23, 2 in the direction of movement of the linear guide device 1.
It is divided into four. In a chamber 23 defined by the side wall 25 of the case 21 and the flexible sliding body 22, a sealing piece 26 in contact with the side wall 25 and a lubricating oil occluding body 27 in contact with the flexible sliding body 22 are arranged. An oil supply hole 28 and a mounting portion 29 are provided in a side wall 25 of the case 21. The lubricating device 3 shown in FIG.
0 is connected.

The flexible sliding member 22 is a plate-like member made of natural rubber, synthetic rubber or elastic plastic and formed into an L-shaped cross section. , Two sliding pieces 22a are formed. The flexible sliding member 22 has a short side portion 22 b fixed to the inner upper wall of the case 21 so that the long side portion is located in the vertical direction.

That is, the flexible sliding body 22 is
, The lower end 22c of each sliding piece 22a loosely comes into sliding contact with the sliding surface 36 of the guide rail 2, and the sliding piece 22a
Moves between the position shown in FIG. 4 and the position shown in FIG. 5 with the relative movement of the guide 2 and the moving body 3.

Although the sliding piece 22a has the same cross-sectional shape as the long side in FIG. 1, the sliding piece 22a can be formed in an edge shape with a narrowed tip.

As shown in FIG. 3, the refueling device 30
A connector 32 having a check valve 31 and a lubricating oil tank 3
3 and a pipe 3 connecting the connector 32 and the lubricating oil tank 33
And 4. A predetermined amount of lubricating oil 35 is stored in the lubricating oil tank 33. Connecting tool 32 and side wall 2 of case 21
The mounting portion 29 provided on the 5 is sealed by screw means. The check valve 31 has a lubricating oil passage formed therein. When the lubricating device 20 side becomes negative pressure due to the movement of the flexible sliding body 22, the lubricating oil passage opens and is stored in the lubricating oil tank 33. Lubricating oil 35 is sent into case 21. Further, when the lubricating device 20 side becomes a positive pressure due to the movement of the flexible sliding body 22, the lubricating oil passage is closed and the lubricating oil 35 stored in the lubricating oil tank 33 is not sent into the case 21.

The seal piece 26 is a plate made of natural rubber or synthetic rubber, and has an opening 37. The sealing piece 26
The opening 37 is aligned with the oil supply hole 28 provided in the side wall 25 of the case 21, and is arranged such that the lower end surface is in sliding contact with the sliding surface 36 of the guide rail 2.

The lubricating oil occluding body 27 is made of felt or sponge, and has a property of occluding lubricating oil. As long as the material has such characteristics, other materials may be used. The lubricating oil occluding body 27 is arranged such that the lower end surface thereof comes into loose contact with the sliding surface 36 of the guide rail 2.

In order to incorporate the lubricating device 20 into the moving body 3 of the linear guide device 1, a recess 40 is formed in the end cap 6 of the linear guide device 1 so as to accommodate the case 21. The case 21 is arranged. Flexible sliding body 22 and seal piece 2 arranged inside case 21
The position of 6 is adjusted so as to slide on the sliding surface 36 of the guide rail 2. The case 21 is fixed to the end cap 6 via a fixing tool 41 and a bolt 42. Case 2
The lubrication device 3
The connector 32 having the zero check valve 31 is mounted so as to be sealed by screw means.

Next, the operation of the lubricating device according to the present invention will be described.

The flexible sliding member 22 of the lubricating device 20 is provided with two sliding pieces 22a.
Since a has the same configuration, only one sliding piece 22a will be described.

The lubricating device 20 incorporated in the moving body 3
In the rest position shown in FIG. 2, the flexible sliding body 22 sliding on the sliding surface of the guide body 2 is in a state of loosely contacting the side surface of the lubricating oil storage body 27, and the flexible sliding body 22 is lubricated. Since the oil occluding body 27 is not pressed, the lubricating oil occluding body 27 maintains a state in which a large amount of the lubricating oil 35 is occluded.

Next, when the moving body 3 moves along the guide body 2 in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2, the sliding piece 22a of the flexible slide body 22 provided on the lubricating device 20 causes the sliding body 22 of the guide body 2 to slide. Face 36
And is deformed in a direction approaching the lubricating oil occluding body 27 by a frictional force generated between the guiding body 2 and the sliding surface 36 as shown in FIG.

When the sliding piece 22a of the flexible sliding body 22 is deformed in a direction approaching the lubricating oil storage body 27, the sliding piece 22a
Presses the surface of the lubricating oil occluding body 27, and the lubricating oil occluding body 2
The lubricating oil 35 stored in 7 is supplied by a minimum amount in proportion to the momentum of the moving body 3 moving along the sliding surface 36 of the guide body 2.

Next, when the moving body 3 reaches the end position where the moving body 3 moves along the guide body 2 and the moving body 3 is inverted at the end position and moves in the direction shown by the arrow B in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the sliding piece 22a of the flexible sliding body 22 that slides on the sliding surface 36 is moved from the lubricating oil occluding body 27 by the frictional force generated between the sliding piece 22a and the sliding surface 36 of the guide body 2. The sliding piece 22a of the flexible sliding body 22 and the lubricating oil
7, a space 23 containing the lubricating oil storage body 27 is enlarged.

When the space 23 becomes large, the space 23 becomes negative pressure, and the lubricating oil 35 stored in the lubricating oil tank 33 passes through the check valve 31 to the lubricating oil occluding body 27 in the lubricating oil occluding body 27. 27 is supplied by an amount corresponding to the amount supplied to the sliding surface 36 of the guide 2.

In the above embodiment, the supply of the lubricating oil to the sliding surface 36 formed on the upper surface of the guide 2 has been described. The same applies to.

In the above embodiment, the lubricating device 20 is disposed on one end cap 6 of the moving body 3, but the lubricating device 20 may be disposed on both end caps 6, 6. In the above embodiment, the guide 2 is fixed and the moving body 3 is moved.
Alternatively, both the and the moving body 3 may be moved. Also,
The lubrication device can be used by being incorporated into a curved guide device, a spline, or a ball bush.

FIG. 6 shows a lubricating device 20a according to a second embodiment of the present invention. This lubricating device 20a is different from the lubricating device 20 only in the configuration of the flexible sliding member 122. Only the flexible sliding member 122 will be described, and description of the other members will be omitted.

The flexible sliding member 122 is a plate-like member made of natural rubber, synthetic rubber or elastic plastic and formed into an L-shaped cross section, like the flexible sliding member 22, and has a long side portion. Are formed with two sliding pieces 122a corresponding to the transfer grooves 4 of the guide rail 2.

As shown in FIG. 6, each sliding piece 122a
Bifurcated lip portions 123a and 123b with inverted Y-shape at the bottom
And a passage 125 communicating the two chambers at an intermediate portion.

The bifurcated lip 1 provided on the sliding piece 122a
One lip portion 123a of 23a and 123b is
The other lip 123b faces the direction of the other chamber 24, while facing the direction of the chamber 23 in which the lubricating oil storage body 27 is arranged. The lip portion 123a is in close contact with the sliding surface 36 of the guide rail 2 when the lower end of the flexible sliding member 122 is deformed toward the lubricant occlusion member 27, and the lip portion 123b is
Is kept in close contact with the sliding surface 36.

The passage 125 provided in the sliding piece 122a has a conical cross section opening on the chamber 23 side where the lubricating oil occluding body 27 is disposed, and a slit 126 is formed in the bottom 126 of the passage 125.
a is formed. Slit 126a on bottom 126
A protrusion is provided to open and close the cover. The slit 126a of the passage 125 opens when the pressure of the chamber 23 increases,
The lubricating oil 35 is supplied from the chamber 23 to the chamber 24, that is, the moving body 3 side. Further, the slit 126a of the passage 125 is
When the pressure of 3 does not increase, the lubricating oil 35 supplied to the moving body 3 side does not return to the chamber 23 when in the closed state.

Thus, the flexible sliding body 122 is
1, the forked lip portions 123 a and 123 b of each sliding piece 122 a
Slidably in contact with the guide body 2 and the moving body 3
Move between the position shown in FIG. 7 and the position shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the lower end of the flexible sliding member 122 is deformed toward the lubricating oil occluding member 27, one lip 123a of the sliding piece 122a slides on the guide rail 2. The pressure in the chamber 23 rises, and the bottom portion 126 of the passage 125 communicating the two chambers 23 and 24 is brought into close contact with the surface 36.
Is opened, and the lubricating oil 35 is injected from the chamber 23 into the chamber 24 through the passage 125. In this case, room 24
To prevent the lubricating oil 35 injected into the sliding piece from flowing away.
The other lip portion 123b of 22a maintains a state in which it is in close contact with the sliding surface 36 of the guide rail 2.

As shown in FIG. 8, when the flexible sliding body 122 has its lower end deformed to the side opposite to the lubricating oil occluding body 27,
The other lip portion 123b of the sliding piece 122a is in close contact with the sliding surface 36 of the guide rail 2 and the pressure in the chamber 23 is reduced, so that the bottom 126 of the passage 125 communicating the two chambers 23 and 24 is formed.
Is closed, and the lubricating oil 35 flows from the chamber 23 to the chamber 2
Not injected into 4. In this case, since the pressure in the chamber 23 decreases, the check valve 33 opens, and the lubricating oil 35 is supplied to the quality 24 from the lubricating oil tank 33 disposed outside. At this time, the other lip portion 123b of the sliding piece 122a keeps a state in which it is in close contact with the sliding surface 36 of the guide rail 2, so that the lubricating oil 35 supplied to the moving body 3 does not flow away.

[0039]

As described above, according to the present invention, a minimum amount of lubricating oil can be supplied to the sliding surface of the guide in proportion to the relative movement between the moving body and the guide. The consumption of the lubricating oil is reduced, and the wear of the friction portion is reduced, and the service life is prolonged.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a linear guide device equipped with a lubrication device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of a lubricating device of the guide device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an oil supply device of a lubrication device of a guide device according to the present invention.

4 is a view showing a lubrication position of a lubrication device of the guide device shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a supply position of a lubrication device of the guide device shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view of another embodiment of the lubrication device for the guide device according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a lubrication position of a lubrication device of the guide device shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a view showing a supply position of a lubrication device of the guide device shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a view showing a lubricating device of a conventional guide device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Linear guide device 2 Guide rail 3 Moving body 20 Lubricating device 21 Case 22 Flexible sliding body 25 Side wall 27 Lubricating oil storage body 30 Lubricating device 31 Check valve 33 Lubricating oil tank 35 Lubricating oil 36 Sliding surface

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A lubricating device for supplying lubricating oil to a sliding surface between a guide body and a moving body of a guide device, wherein the lubricating device moves so that an open end is close to the sliding surface of the guide body. A case fixed to the body, a flexible sliding body supported in the case so that one end thereof is in sliding contact with the sliding surface of the guide, and a lubricating oil disposed in the case to supply lubricating oil to the sliding surface of the guide A lubricating device comprising: 2. The lubricating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the interior of the case is partitioned into two chambers by a flexible sliding body, and a lubricating oil occluding body is disposed in one of the chambers. 3. The lubricating device according to claim 2, wherein a lubricating oil occluding body is disposed in the case, and a seal piece is provided on a wall surface, one end of which is in sliding contact with a sliding surface of the guide body. 4. An oil supply device having one end connected to a case and the other end connected to a lubricating oil tank.
4. The lubricating device according to any one of items 3 to 3. 5. The lubricating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the flexible sliding body has a passage communicating from the lubricating oil storage side chamber to another chamber. 6. The flexible sliding body has a bifurcated lip at one end, one lip facing the lubricating oil storage body side chamber, and the other lip facing the other chamber. The lubricating device according to claim 2, wherein 7. The lubricating device according to claim 4, wherein a check valve is provided between the lubricating oil tank and the lubricating device.