JP2004044811A - Linear motion guiding device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a linear motion guiding device that is light, is easily machined and assembled, and has a moving block capable of smoothly performing circulation of a ball. <P>SOLUTION: A block body 6 is integrally molded by insert molding where the block body is molded by inserting a track member 8 having a ball rolling groove 5 in a load region into a die 10. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

The present invention relates to a linear motion guide device used for a linear guide section of a machine tool.

In this type of conventional linear motion guide device, a moving block is movably provided on a track rail via a number of balls. The moving block includes a block body provided with a ball rolling groove in a load area provided opposite to a ball rolling groove provided on a track rail, and side lids attached to both ends of the block body. Configuration. The ball circulates infinitely through a ball rolling groove in the load area, a direction change path provided in the side cover and a ball escape path, and a ball retainer is provided at a side edge of the ball rolling groove. .

However, in the case of the above-described conventional technology, there is a problem that the weight of the moving block is increased because a cut metal block is used as the moving block.

In addition, drilling a ball escape passage in the metal block increases the number of processing steps and increases the cost.

Furthermore, when assembling the R piece constituting the inner circumference of the direction change path to the end face of the block body, it is necessary to assemble so that there is no step between the ball rolling groove and the R piece.

In addition, when assembling the ball retainer to the side edge of the ball rolling groove, it was necessary to assemble the ball so as not to interfere with the ball retainer during traveling, which was troublesome. The large number of such assembling steps is also a factor that causes an increase in cost.

Therefore, conventionally, cost reduction has been attempted for the ball retainer, side lid, and ball escape passage which do not require high rigidity as a resin molded product.

However, each conventional resin molded product is a separate molded product from the block body, and requires an assembling process after being molded separately.

Therefore, it is conceivable to reduce the assembly process by integrally molding the ball retainer and the block main body.

A linear motion ball bearing as disclosed in US Pat. No. 4,128,279 is known as such an integral molding technique.

As shown in FIG. 14, the linear motion ball bearing is composed of an outer cylinder 101 having an open cross-section partly cut away, and a shaft 105 inserted into the outer cylinder 101.

A number of balls 104 arranged in the axial direction are interposed between the inner circumference of the outer cylinder 101 and the outer circumference of the shaft 105, and the outer cylinder 101 linearly moves along the shaft 105 via the balls 104. ing. A plurality of balls 104 are provided in the circumferential direction of the outer cylinder 101, and each ball row circulates through a direction change path 108 at both ends of the outer cylinder 101 and a plurality of no-load ball passages 110 provided on the outer peripheral side of the outer cylinder 101. It is supposed to. The ball 104 in the load area interposed between the outer cylinder 101 and the shaft 105 has ball holding portions 106 extending along the axial direction on both sides of the ball row.
Is held by

The ball holding portion 106, the inner peripheral portion 108a of the direction change path 108, and the no-load ball passage 110 are integrally formed with the outer cylinder 101 by insert molding.

However, in the case of the above-described conventional linear motion ball bearing, when insert molding is performed, for example, as shown in FIG. The inner periphery of the outer cylinder 101 is brought into close contact with the second mold 112 to form the ball holding portion 106 and the cavities 106a and 110a for forming the no-load ball passage 110. , It is difficult to make close contact with the second molds 111 and 112 accurately, and there is a problem that a gap is formed between the contact surfaces and burrs are generated.

Especially, when burrs are generated between the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 101 and the contact surface between the second mold 112, burrs are generated on the load ball rolling surface, and it is necessary to remove the burrs. However, it is very difficult and practically impossible to remove such burrs generated between the ball holding portions 106 and 106.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a moving block that is lightweight, easy to process and assemble, and can smoothly circulate balls. To provide a linear motion guide device having the same.

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, a moving block is movably provided on a track rail via a number of balls, and the moving block faces a ball rolling groove provided on the track rail. A linear movement guide device comprising: a block body provided with a ball rolling groove in a load area provided by a load; and side covers attached to both ends of the block body. The track member having the rolling grooves formed therein is integrally molded by insert molding in which the track member is inserted into a mold, and a concave portion is provided in the track member, and the molding material is cut into the concave portion by integral molding. Features.

(4) The molding material cut into the concave portion applies a reverse radial acting in a direction of lifting the block body upward from the track rail.

凹 部 The recess is provided on the back surface opposite to the side where the ball rolling groove is formed.

The block body is assembled so as to sandwich the track rail from the left and right via the ball. The track member inserted into the block body is formed by one member, and ball rolling grooves are provided on both left and right sides of the track member. It is characterized by having been done.

The block body is assembled so as to sandwich the track rail from the left and right via the ball, and the track members inserted into the block body are constituted by two members respectively arranged on the left and right sides of the block body. The member is provided with a ball rolling groove.

The block body is provided with two rows of balls on the left and right, and at the upper and lower ends of each of the track members arranged on the left and right, a cover portion surrounding the ball more than the contact portion of the ball when rolling is provided. The cover portion is shaped to be hooked on a part of the mold during insert molding.

The block body is a member having a substantially rectangular cross section arranged side by side on the left and right side surfaces of the track rail, a ball is interposed between the block body side surface and the side surface of the track rail, and a track member inserted into the block body is provided. It is characterized by being constituted by one member.

成形 The molding material of the block body excluding the track member is any one of resin, aluminum die-cast, and zinc die-cast.

As described above, the present invention pays attention to the fact that it is necessary to have a high surface pressure resistance at least in the portion where the ball rolling groove is formed, and to change the raceway member in which the ball rolling groove is formed into a mold. And the block body is integrally formed using resin, lightweight aluminum die-cast or zinc die-cast. Therefore, the weight of the conventional metal block can be significantly reduced as compared with the moving block.

Also, if the ball holding portion provided along the ball rolling groove to prevent the ball from falling off is formed integrally with the block body, there is no need to provide a separate ball retainer, and it is not necessary to assemble.

れ ば Further, if the no-load ball guide is formed integrally, there is no need to machine the ball relief hole as in the conventional case, and it is not necessary to assemble it.

Furthermore, if the direction change path inner circumference guide part for changing the direction of the ball from the load area to the no-load area is integrally formed, it is not necessary to separately prepare an R piece as in the related art, and it is not necessary to assemble it. There is no step between the inner circumference of the turning path and the loaded ball rolling groove and between the inner circumference of the turning path and the no-load ball passage, so that the circulation is smooth.

As described above, according to the present invention, the track member in which the ball rolling grooves are formed is inserted into the mold, and the block body is integrally formed using resin, lightweight aluminum die casting or zinc die casting. The weight can be significantly reduced as compared with a moving block using a conventional metal block.

Also, if at least one of the ball holding portion, the no-load ball passage, and the inner peripheral portion of the ball direction changing path is integrally formed with the block body, it is not necessary to separately process the component, the number of parts can be reduced, and the number of assembly steps can be reduced. Therefore, cost can be reduced.

In particular, if the direction change path inner circumference guide part that turns the ball from the load area to the no-load area is integrally formed, the direction change path inner circumference and the load ball rolling groove, and the direction change path inner circumference, There is no step between the no-load ball passages and the ball circulates smoothly.

実 施 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1 shows a linear motion guide device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

That is, the moving block 3 is movably provided on the track rail 1 via a large number of balls 2. The moving block 3 includes a block main body 6 provided with a ball rolling groove 5 in a load area provided opposite to a ball rolling groove 4 provided in the track rail 1, and a side attached to both ends of the block main body 6. And a lid 7.

ブ ロ ッ ク The block body 6 is obtained by integrally molding the resin portion 9 by insert molding in which a track member 8 having the ball rolling groove 5 formed therein is inserted into a mold and molded. Instead of resin, lightweight aluminum die-cast or zinc die-cast may be used. The raceway member 8 is required to have a high surface pressure resistance, and it is preferable that the material has good hardenability and high hardness (for example, about HRC 58 to 64) and high abrasion resistance and fatigue resistance.

The block body 6 has a U-shaped cross section that is assembled so as to sandwich the track rail 1. The ball 2 is interposed between the left and right inner surfaces of the block body 6 and the left and right side surfaces of the track rail 1. The track members 8, 8 are formed with ball rolling grooves 5, 5, respectively. The left and right ball rolling grooves 5 and 5 are provided in two vertical lines.

The ball rolling grooves 4 on the side of the track rail 1 are also provided on the left and right in two vertical lines. In this embodiment, a line connecting a pair of opposing ball rolling grooves 4 and 5 and a contact portion of the ball is formed. The left and right contact angle lines L <b> 1 are configured to open outward so as to narrow toward the center of the track rail 1.

At the upper and lower ends of the track members 8, 8 disposed on the left and right, cover portions 81, 81 surrounding the ball 2 in excess of the contact portion of the ball 2 during rolling are provided. Has a shape that catches on a part of the mold during insert molding.

Further, a concave portion 82 is provided on the back surface of the track members 8, 8, and a part of the resin portion 9 is cut into the concave portion 82, thereby acting in a direction of lifting the block body 6 upward from the track rail 1. A radial load is applied.

Along the upper and lower ball rolling grooves 5, 5, first and second ball holding portions 91a, 91b for preventing the ball 2 from falling off are integrally formed.

On the other hand, on both end surfaces of the block body 6, inner circumferential guide portions 92 of a direction change path for changing the direction of the ball 2 from the no-load region to the load region are formed. A pipe-shaped direction changing path C that bends in a U-shape is formed with the inner peripheral guide portion 92 and the outer direction guiding portion 71 of the direction changing path provided on the side cover 7.

Further, the resin portion 9 is provided with a no-load ball passage 93 extending in parallel with the ball rolling grooves 5 and 5. The no-load ball passage 93 is a through hole having a circular cross section, and is integrally formed at the time of insert molding.

Here, all of the ball holding portions 91a and 91b, the inner peripheral guide portion 92, and the no-load ball passage 93 need not always be integrally formed at the time of insert molding, and any one of them may be integrally formed. . In some cases, only the track member may be integrally formed during insert molding.

In the linear motion guide device having the above-described configuration, the track member 8 in which the ball rolling groove 5 is formed is inserted into a mold and molded, so that it is compared with a moving block obtained by cutting a conventional metal block. Significant weight reduction.

Also, if the ball holding portions 91a and 91b are integrally formed along the ball rolling groove 5, there is no need to provide a separate ball retainer, and it is not necessary to assemble the ball.

(4) If the unloaded ball passage 93 is integrally formed, it is not necessary to form a ball relief hole as in the related art, and it is not necessary to assemble it.

Further, since the direction changing path inner circumferential guide portion 92 for changing the direction of the ball from the load area to the no-load area is also integrally formed, there is no need to separately prepare and assemble the R piece unlike the conventional art. In addition, the steps between the inner peripheral portion 92 of the turning path and the loaded ball rolling groove 5 and the steps between the inner peripheral portion 92 of the turning path and the no-load ball passage 93 are eliminated, and the ball 2 circulates smoothly.

When the moving block 3 is formed, as shown in FIG. 3, the ball rolling grooves 5, 5 of the two track members 8, 8 are inserted into the mold 10 with facing each other. The ball rolling grooves 5, 5 of the track members 8, 8 are supported by a ball rolling groove support portion 10a of a mold, and the ball rolling grooves 5, 5 of the track members 8, 8 are formed by using molding pressure. It is pressed against the mold 10 and molded.

す る と Explaining this point in detail, the ball rolling groove support portion 10a of the mold 10 is formed in the movable mold 10A, and the track members 8, 8 are disposed on the left and right sides thereof. At this time, the covering portion 81 of the track member 8 covers the ball rolling groove support portion 10a and is caught.

Next, of the molds 10, the movable mold 10A moves to the fixed mold 10B side and is clamped.

Thereafter, the pressing member 11 disposed on the back surface of the race member 8 in the mold 10 pushes the race member 8, and the ball rolling groove support portion 10 a of the mold 10 is moved to the ball rolling groove 5 of the race member 8. Will come into strong contact.

ボ ー ル The ball rolling groove support portions 10 a of the mold 10 are provided at two places on the left and right sides, and the parallelism is accurately formed and finished so as to have the same shape as the ball rolling groove 5 of the track member 8.

When resin molding is performed in such a state, the raceway member 8 is further pressed against the ball rolling groove support portion 1a of the central mold by the molding pressure of the resin.

と After molding, when the mold is opened and the molded product is taken out, the block main body 6 in which the two track members 8 are inserted is completed. At both ends of the block body 6, a direction change path inner circumferential guide portion 92 is formed, and at both sides of the block body 6, a no-load ball passage 93 is formed. Further, ball holding portions 91a and 91b are formed on both side edges of the ball rolling groove of the track member 8 inserted into the block body 6. These parts are formed continuously with the other parts being the ball rolling groove of the track member 8 as a reference position, and the parts at both ends are formed at the same time.

According to such a molding method, the parallelism of all the ball rolling grooves, the distance between the grooves, and the position from the upper surface or the side end of the moving block 6 can maintain the same dimensions and accuracy for all the molding shots. it can. That is, when two track blocks are combined with one track rail 1 and two track rails are used in parallel, the accuracy of the entire table apparatus is improved by this characteristic.

Also, as described above, the burrs of the ball rolling grooves formed by the molding are firmly brought into contact with the contact portions of the mold by the pressing by the pressing member 11 and the resin molding pressure, so that there is no gap between them. No burr occurs.

Next, FIGS. 4 to 8 show various aspects of the first embodiment.

That is, each of them has a configuration in which the track members 8 are two members, and are arranged one on each of the left and right sides of the block body 6.

FIG. 4 shows a configuration in which the track member 8 is formed by a thin member formed into a C-shaped cross section. In this case, a third ball holding portion 91c is provided between the upper and lower ball rows. The rest of the configuration is exactly the same as the configuration of FIG.

FIG. 5 shows an inwardly open contact structure in which the contact angle line L2 between each pair of opposing ball rolling grooves 4, 5 and the ball 2 opens toward the center of the track rail 1. FIG. Similarly to the example, the third ball holding portion 91c is provided between the upper and lower ball rows. The rest of the configuration is exactly the same as the configuration of FIG.

FIG. 6 also shows a configuration in which the track member 8 is formed of a thin member formed into a C-shaped cross section, and has two rows of balls on each of the left and right sides. The upper end corner of the track rail is sandwiched between its upper surface and side surfaces. Are arranged as follows.

In this case, the no-load ball passages 93, 93 corresponding to the vertically arranged ball rows are separated from each other. Therefore, as shown in FIG. I have.

FIG. 7 shows a type having one row of balls on each side on the left and right, and the track member 8 is formed by a thin member formed into a C-shaped cross section.

FIG. 8 shows that the block body 6 has a substantially L-shaped cross section, one of the left and right ball rows is interposed between the side face of the track rail 1 and the inner face of the block body 6, and the other row of ball rows is the upper face of the track rail 1. It is interposed between the corner and the corner on the inner surface of the block body.

軌道 And the track member 8 is constituted by a thin member having a C-shaped cross section.

FIG. 9A shows a second embodiment of the present invention.

This second embodiment also has a moving block 3 that slides along the track rail 1 via balls 2 arranged on the left and right arranged so as to straddle the track rail 1 on the left and right. Reference numeral 208 also differs from the first embodiment in that it is constituted by one member disposed so as to straddle the track rail 1 on the left and right. Since other configurations and operations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

In the case of the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9 (b), the ball rolling groove 205 of the track member 208 and the ball rolling groove supporting portion 10a of the mold 10 are moved so that the molding material does not enter. In contact with each other.

In order to prevent burrs, it is not necessary that the ball rolling groove 5 and the ball rolling groove supporting portion 10a of the mold 10 be completely in close contact with each other. The size may be as large as possible.

FIGS. 10 to 12 show variations of the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 shows a configuration in which the track member 208 is formed by a thin member formed into a C-shaped cross section, and the other configuration is exactly the same as the configuration in FIG.

FIG. 11 also shows a configuration in which the track member 8 is formed of a thin member formed into a C-shaped cross section. The ball row has two rows on each of the left and right sides. It is arranged so as to sandwich it.

FIG. 12 shows a type having one row of balls on each side on the left and right, and the track member 8 is formed by a thin member formed into a C-shaped cross section.

FIG. 13 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.

That is, the moving block 303 is movably provided on the track rail 301 via many balls 302. The moving block 303 includes a block body 306 provided with a ball rolling groove 305 in a load area provided opposite to a ball rolling groove 304 provided in the track rail 301, and a side attached to both ends of the block body 306. And a lid 307.

The block body 306 is obtained by integrally molding the resin portion 309 by insert molding in which the track member 8 having the ball rolling groove 305 is inserted into a mold and molded.

The block body 306 is a member having a rectangular cross section arranged in parallel with the track rail 301, and the ball 302 is interposed between the opposing side surfaces of the block body 306 and the track rail 301.

The track member 308 is a thin member having a C-shaped cross section, and has two upper and lower ball rolling grooves 305, 305 formed therein.

Along the upper and lower ball rolling grooves 305, the first and second ball holding portions 91a and 91b and the third ball holding portion 91c for preventing the ball 302 from falling off are integrally formed.

両 端 Note that, although not shown, the inner peripheral guides of the direction change path similar to that shown in FIG. 2B are formed on both end surfaces of the block body 306.

Further, the resin portion 309 is formed with a no-load ball passage 393 extending in parallel with the ball rolling grooves 305, 305, and is integrally formed at the time of insert molding.

成形 The molding procedure in this case is the same as that in FIG.

Further, the number of ball rows may be one as shown in FIG.

FIG. 1 is a view showing a linear motion guide device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a view showing the linear motion guide device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of an insert molding step of the block body of the linear motion guide device of the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing one embodiment of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing one embodiment of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing one embodiment of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing one embodiment of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing one embodiment of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a view showing a linear motion guide device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an aspect of the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an aspect of the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an aspect of the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a view showing a linear motion guide device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14 shows a conventional linear motion bearing.

Explanation of reference numerals

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 track rail 2 ball 3 moving block 4, 5 ball rolling groove 6 block body 7 side cover 8 track member 9 resin portion 91 a to 91 c first to third ball holding portion 92 turn guide inner circumference guide portion 93 no load ball Passage 10 Mold 10a Ball rolling groove support

Claims (9)

A moving block is movably provided on the track rail via a large number of balls, and the moving block is provided with a ball rolling groove in a load area provided opposite to the ball rolling groove provided on the track rail. A linear motion guide device comprising a main body and side lids attached to both ends of the block main body,
The block main body is integrally molded by insert molding in which a track member having the ball rolling groove in the load area is inserted into a mold and molded.
A linear motion guide device wherein a recess is provided in the track member, and a molding material is cut into the recess by integral molding. The linear motion guide device according to claim 1, wherein the molding material cut into the concave portion applies a reverse radial acting in a direction of lifting the block body upward from the track rail. The linear motion guide device according to claim 1, wherein the concave portion is provided on a back surface opposite to a side on which the ball rolling groove is formed. A ball holding portion provided along the ball rolling groove to prevent the ball from falling off, a direction change path inner circumferential guide portion for changing the direction of the ball from the no-load region to the load region, and a non-load ball guide portion. The linear motion guide device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the blocks is integrally formed when the block body is insert-molded. The block body is assembled so as to sandwich the track rail from the left and right via the ball. The track member inserted into the block body is formed by one member, and ball rolling grooves are provided on both left and right sides of the track member. The linear motion guide device according to claim 1, wherein the linear motion guide device is provided. The block body is assembled so as to sandwich the track rail from the left and right via the ball, and the track members inserted into the block body are constituted by two members respectively arranged on the left and right sides of the block body. The linear motion guide device according to claim 1, wherein a ball rolling groove is provided on the member. The block body is provided with two rows of balls on the left and right, and at the upper and lower ends of each of the track members arranged on the left and right, a cover portion surrounding the ball more than the contact portion of the ball when rolling is provided. 7. The linear motion guide device according to claim 6, wherein the cover portion is shaped to be hooked on a part of a mold during insert molding. The block body is a member having a substantially rectangular cross section arranged side by side on the left and right side surfaces of the track rail, a ball is interposed between the block body side surface and the side surface of the track rail, and a track member inserted into the block body is provided. The linear motion guide device according to claim 1, wherein the linear motion guide device is formed by one member. The linear motion guide device according to claim 1, wherein the molding material of the block body excluding the track member is any one of resin, aluminum die-cast, and zinc die-cast.

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