JP2005207497A - Linear guide bearing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To supply lubricant in good balance from a lubricant supplying member to rolling element rolling grooves without being influenced by the mounting accuracy of a case accommodating the lubricant supplying member. <P>SOLUTION: The linear guide bearing device is equipped with the lubricant supplying member 50 installed at the end in the axial direction of a slider 22 and making slide contact with the rolling element rolling grooves 23 in a guide rail 21 for supplying the lubricant and the case 40 to accommodate the member 50 in such a way as covering its periphery, wherein the member 50 is accommodated in the case 40 in such a way that its position is not restrained by the case 40, and the energizing force to press the member 50 to the grooves 23 in the guide rail 21 is generated by accommodating the member 50 in the case 40. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a linear motion guide bearing device used in an industrial machine field such as a machine tool.

As a conventional linear guide bearing device of this type, for example, the one shown in FIG. 9 is known.
This linear motion guide bearing device includes a guide rail 1 extending in the axial direction, and a slider 2 straddling the guide rail 1 so as to be relatively movable in the axial direction.
Roller element rolling grooves 3 extending in the axial direction are formed on both side surfaces of the guide rail 1. The slider body 2 A of the slider 2 has rolling element rolling grooves on the inner side surfaces of both sleeve portions 4. 3 is formed with a rolling element rolling groove 7 opposite to the rolling element 7. A large number of balls B as an example of rolling elements are slidably loaded between the rolling grooves 3 and 7 facing each other, and the slider 2 is moved through the rolling of these balls B. It can move relative to the guide rail 1 along the axial direction.

Along with this movement, the ball B interposed between the guide rail 1 and the slider 2 rolls and moves to the end of the slider 2, but in order to continuously move the slider 2 in the axial direction, It is necessary to circulate these balls B indefinitely.
For this reason, a rolling element passage 8 penetrating in the axial direction is formed in the sleeve portion 4 of the slider body 2A, and substantially U-shaped end caps 5 are respectively attached to both ends of the slider body 2A. The end cap 5 is formed with a direction change path 6 curved in a semicircular arc shape that communicates between the rolling element rolling grooves 3 and 7 and the rolling element passage 8. A circular orbit is formed. In FIG. 9, reference numeral 11 denotes a side seal fixed to the end face of the slider body 2A together with the end cap 5 via a screw 12 or the like, 10 denotes a tapped hole of the screw 12 formed on the end face of the slider body 2A, and 13 denotes A grease supply nipple 14 is a bolt insertion hole for fixing the guide rail 1.

  By the way, in a linear motion guide bearing device used for a machine device in which foreign matter such as cutting powder is generated in the periphery such as a machine tool, the above-described seal by the side seal 11 is not sufficient, and the lubrication condition becomes severe. From the side seal 11 and the end cap 5, a lubricant supply member (not shown) in which a lubricant is impregnated with rubber or synthetic resin is mounted in a case, and the lubricant supply member is guided. There is one in which the end of the slider 2 in the axial direction is sealed while being in sliding contact with the rolling element rolling groove 3 of the rail 1 and supplying a lubricant.

As a means for pressing the lubricant supply member accommodated in the case against the rolling element rolling groove of the guide rail 1, for example, the axial thickness of the guide rail 1 of the lubricant supply member is determined from the depth of the recess in the same direction of the case. The lubricant supply member is pressed against the rolling element rolling groove of the guide rail 1 by crushing and deforming the lubricant supply member in the axial direction of the guide rail 1 with its position constrained in the case. What has been proposed has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 11-294453 A

  In the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, the amount of lubricant oozing out from the lubricant supply member is greatly influenced by the pressing force of the lubricant supply member against the guide rail 1, and the pressing force is crushed in the axial direction of the lubricant supply member. The position of the lubricant supply member is determined by the mounting position of the case because the lubricant supply member is housed in the case with its position being constrained. When trying to supply the lubricant evenly to the rolling grooves 3, it is necessary to attach the case with high accuracy.

When the supply amount of the lubricant to each rolling element rolling groove 3 is uneven, there is a concern that the rolling element does not circulate smoothly in the rolling element rolling groove 3 with a small supply amount or that the life is reached early. In addition, the rolling element rolling groove 3 having a large supply amount causes a problem that the lubricant is depleted at an early stage.
The present invention has been made to eliminate such inconveniences, and is balanced from the lubricant supply member to each rolling element rolling groove without being affected by the mounting accuracy of the case housing the lubricant supply member. It is an object of the present invention to provide a linear motion guide bearing device that can supply a lubricant well and can stably supply a lubricant over a long period of time.

To achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 includes a guide rail having a rolling element rolling groove extending in the axial direction, and a rolling element rolling groove facing the rolling element rolling groove of the guide rail. A slider straddling the guide rail so as to be relatively movable along the axial direction through rolling of a large number of rolling elements inserted between the rolling grooves of both the rolling elements, and a shaft of the slider A lubricant supply member that is attached to an end portion in the direction and that slidably contacts the rolling element rolling groove of the guide rail to supply the lubricant, and a case that houses the lubricant supply member so as to cover the outer peripheral portion. In the linear motion guide bearing device provided,
The lubricant supply member is housed in the case so that its position is not restrained by the case, and a biasing force that presses the lubricant supply member against the rolling element rolling groove of the guide rail is applied to the lubricant supply. It is generated by storing the member in the case.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the urging force that presses the lubricant supply member against the rolling element rolling groove of the guide rail is the lubrication within a plane perpendicular to the axial direction of the guide rail. It is generated by deformation of the agent supply member.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the urging force that presses the lubricant supply member against the rolling element rolling groove of the guide rail is the notch formed in the lubricant supply member in the case. It is generated by fitting a convex part larger than the width dimension of the notch formed in the above.
The invention according to claim 4 is the method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the thickness of the lubricant supply member in the axial direction of the guide rail is equal to or smaller than the depth of the case in the same direction. Features.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the lubricant supply member is housed in the case so as to cover the outer periphery of the lubricant supply member, so that the lubricant can be prevented from flowing out and evaporating from the lubricant supply member. Therefore, it is possible to supply the lubricant to the rolling element rolling groove of the guide rail over a long period of time.
Further, the lubricant supply member is housed in the case so that its position is not restrained by the case, so that when the lubricant supply member is pressed against each rolling element rolling groove, Since the position of the lubricant supply member in the case is determined by the balance of the reaction force from the guide rail, the urging force that presses the lubricant supply member against the guide rail can be equalized in each rolling element rolling groove. Thus, the lubricant can be supplied from the lubricant supply member to each rolling element rolling groove in a well-balanced manner without being affected by the mounting accuracy of the case, and the lubricant can be stably supplied over a long period of time. be able to.

Further, since the urging force for pressing the lubricant supply member against the rolling element rolling groove of the guide rail is generated by housing the lubricant supply member in the case, the number of parts can be minimized. In addition, it is not necessary to adjust the urging force, and assembly is facilitated.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first aspect of the present invention, the urging force that presses the lubricant supply member against the rolling element rolling groove of the guide rail is a lubricant in a plane perpendicular to the axial direction of the guide rail. Since the biasing force is generated by deformation of the supply member, the biasing force and the deformation amount of the lubricant supply member are proportional to each other. Therefore, the biasing force can be easily set and the supply amount of the lubricant can be easily adjusted. Can be done.

In the invention of claim 3, in addition to the invention of claim 1 or 2, a biasing force for pressing the lubricant supply member against the rolling element rolling groove of the guide rail is formed in the notch formed in the lubricant supply member. By fitting and generating a protrusion that is larger than the width dimension of the notch, the lubricant supply member can always be brought into contact with the rolling element rolling groove of the guide rail even if the lubricant supply member is worn. it can.
In the invention of claim 4, in addition to the invention of any one of claims 1 to 3, the axial thickness of the guide rail of the lubricant supply member is made equal to or smaller than the depth of the case in the same direction. The lubricant supply member can be smoothly deformed and positioned in a plane orthogonal to the axial direction of the guide rail.

Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a partially broken view for explaining a linear guide bearing device as an example of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a right side view of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a view showing a lubricant supply member, FIG. 5 is a view showing a case, FIG. 6 is a view showing a state where the lubricant supply member is housed in the case, and FIG. 7 is a view of the lubricant supply member housed in the case. The figure which shows the state which pressed the sliding contact part on the rolling-element rolling groove of the guide rail, FIG. 8: is principal part sectional drawing for demonstrating the linear motion guide bearing apparatus which is other embodiment of this invention.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a linear motion guide bearing device 20, which is an example of an embodiment of the present invention, has a guide rail 21 that extends in the axial direction and is relatively movable in the axial direction on the guide rail 21. A rolling element rolling groove 23 extending in the axial direction is formed on each side surface in the width direction of the guide rail 21 in two rows on one side, for a total of four rows.
The slider body 22A of the slider 22 is formed with rolling element rolling grooves 25 opposed to the rolling element rolling grooves 23 on the inner side surfaces of both sleeve portions 24, respectively. A load track is formed by 25.

A large number of cylindrical rollers 26 as rolling elements are slidably loaded on the load track so that the slider 22 can relatively move along the axial direction on the guide rail 21 through the rolling of these cylindrical rollers 26. It has become.
Along with this movement, the cylindrical roller 26 interposed between the guide rail 21 and the slider 22 rolls and moves to the end of the slider 22 in the axial direction, but the slider 22 continues to move in the axial direction. Need to circulate these cylindrical rollers 26 indefinitely.

  For this reason, a hole 27 penetrating in the axial direction is formed in the sleeve portion 24 of the slider main body 22A, and the circulation sleeve 28 whose inside is a passage (rolling member passage) 28a of the cylindrical roller 26 is fitted into the hole 27. A substantially U-shaped end cap 29 is fixed to each end of the slider main body 22A in the axial direction via a screw 32 or the like, and the end cap 29 has an arc shape communicating the load track and the rolling element passage 28a. By forming a curved direction change path (not shown), an infinite circulation track of the cylindrical roller 26 is formed.

In this embodiment, the direction change path that communicates between the upper rolling element passage 28a and the lower rolling element rolling grooves 23, 25, the lower rolling element passage 28a, and the upper rolling elements. Direction change paths that communicate between the rolling grooves 23 and 25 are arranged so as to cross each other three-dimensionally.
In addition, since the many cylindrical rollers 26 that circulate infinitely rotate in the same direction around the roller axis, when the cylindrical rollers 26 that are adjacent to each other come into contact with each other, the roller speed directions of the contact portions are opposite to each other, Since the force generated thereby prevents smooth rolling of the cylindrical roller 26, in this embodiment, the separator 30 is interposed between the cylindrical rollers 26 adjacent to each other in the circulation direction. In addition to preventing direct contact between the two, the skew is suppressed, thereby smoothing the traveling of the slider 22 and reducing noise during traveling.

1 and 2, reference numeral 33 denotes a cage as a separator guide member that is disposed along the load track and has both end portions in the axial direction inserted into the end cap 29. Reference numeral 31 denotes a slider together with the end cap 29. Side seals fixed to the end face of the main body 22A via screws 32 and the like, 34 is a tapped hole of the screw 32 formed on the end face of the slider main body 2A, and 35 is a greasing nipple.
When the cylindrical roller 26 circulates through the load track, the direction changing path, and the rolling element passage 28a between the rolling elements rolling grooves 23 and 25, the arm portion 30a of the separator 30 is connected to the retainer 33 and the rolling element. It is guided along the circulation direction of the cylindrical roller 26 by guide grooves 36 respectively provided in the moving body passage 28a and the direction changing path.

Here, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the axial direction of the slider 22 while being in sliding contact with the rolling element rolling groove 23 of the guide rail 21 between the end cap 29 and the side seal 31. A lubricant supply member 50 that seals the end of each is interposed in a state of being accommodated in the case 40.
The case 40 is an integrally molded product such as resin or steel, and is substantially the same size as the end cap 29 and is formed in a substantially U shape like the end cap 29. As shown in FIGS. A housing portion 44 for housing the lubricant supply member 50 is formed by the outer peripheral wall 42 covering the outer peripheral portion of the lubricant supply member 50 and the end wall 43 covering the axial end surface of the lubricant supply member 50.

In addition, a ring-shaped pressing member (convex portion) 41 is integrally formed at a substantially center of an upper end portion of the housing portion 44 above the guide rail 1 of the housing portion 44. The pressing member 41 is a grease nipple. Also serves as 35 insertion sleeves. A plurality of screw insertion sleeves 45 are formed in the storage portion 44 corresponding to the tightening positions of the screws 32.
The lubricant supply member 50 is made of porous resin, rubber, or the like containing a lubricant, and is formed in a substantially U-shape smaller than the end cap 29 as shown in FIGS. A gap is provided between the inner surface of the outer peripheral wall 42 of the case 40 so that its axial thickness is equal to or smaller than the depth of the storage portion 44 in the same direction and the position is not restrained by the case 40. It is stored in the case 40 in a state (see FIGS. 6 and 7).

  Sliding contact portions 51 for slidingly contacting the rolling element rolling grooves 23 of the guide rail 21 and supplying the lubricant are provided inside the U-shaped both ends of the lubricant supply member 50, and the sliding contact portions 51 are excluded. The portion is not in contact with the guide rail 21. Further, a notch 52 into which the pressing member 41 provided on the case 40 side is fitted is formed at a substantially central position above the guide rail 21 of the lubricant supply member 50. The pressing member 41 is made larger than the width dimension of the notch 52, and the notch 52 is fitted to the pressing member 41 with a predetermined tightening allowance.

In FIG. 4, reference numerals 53 and 54 denote notches and holes formed corresponding to the screw insertion sleeve 45 on the case 40 side. The notches 53 and the holes 54 take into account the deformation of the lubricant supply member 50. In the state where the lubricant supply member 50 is housed in the case 40, a gap is formed between the screw insertion sleeve 45 and the screw supply sleeve 45.
Then, the lubricant supply member 50 is stored in the storage portion 44 of the case 40, the notch 52 of the lubricant supply member 50 is fitted to the pressing member 41 of the case 40, and the upper end portion of the lubricant supply member 50 is guided to the guide rail. By pressing and deforming the slider 22 outward in the width direction within a plane orthogonal to the axial direction of the 21, the U-shaped both ends located on the lower end side of the lubricant supply member 50 are orthogonal to the axial direction of the guide rail 21. In this way, the slider 22 is deformed inward in the width direction of the slider 22 (see FIG. 6), and thereby the urging force that presses the sliding contact portion 51 against the rolling element rolling groove 23 of the guide rail 21 against the lubricant supply member 50. And the sliding contact portion 51 is brought into close contact with the rolling element rolling groove 23 of the guide rail 21 (see FIG. 7).

  At this time, as described above, the lubricant supply member 50 is stored in the case 40 so that the position thereof is not restrained by the case 40, and the inside of the storage portion 44 is freely deformed in the vertical direction with respect to the case 40. Therefore, when the sliding portion 51 of the lubricant supply member 50 is pressed against the upper and lower rolling element rolling grooves 23, the lubricant supply member 50 is balanced by the reaction force from the upper and lower rolling element rolling grooves 23. Therefore, the urging force that presses the sliding portion 51 of the lubricant supply member 50 against each rolling element rolling groove 23 is made equal to each rolling element rolling groove 23. Therefore, the lubricant can be supplied from the lubricant supply member 50 to the respective rolling element rolling grooves 23 in a well-balanced manner.

As is apparent from the above description, in this embodiment, since the lubricant supply member 50 is housed in the case 40 so as to cover the outer periphery of the lubricant supply member 50, the lubrication from the lubricant supply member 50 is performed. The outflow and evaporation of the agent can be prevented, and the lubricant can be supplied to the rolling element rolling groove 23 of the guide rail 21 for a long period of time.
In addition, since the lubricant supply member 50 is housed in the case 40 so that the position thereof is not restrained by the case 40, the lubricant supply member 50 can be moved from the lubricant supply member 50 without being affected by the mounting accuracy of the case 40. The lubricant can be supplied to the moving body rolling groove 23 in a well-balanced manner, and the lubricant can be supplied stably over a long period of time.

Furthermore, since the urging force for pressing the lubricant supply member 50 against the rolling element rolling groove 23 of the guide rail 21 can be generated by housing the lubricant supply member 50 in the case 40, the number of parts can be minimized. In addition, there is no need to adjust the biasing force, and assembly is facilitated.
Further, an urging force that presses the lubricant supply member 50 against the rolling element rolling groove 23 of the guide rail 21 is generated by deformation of the lubricant supply member 50 in a plane orthogonal to the axial direction of the guide rail 21. Therefore, the urging force and the deformation amount of the lubricant supply member 50 are in a proportional relationship, so that the urging force can be easily set, and the supply amount of the lubricant can be easily adjusted. .

Further, the urging force for pressing the lubricant supply member 50 against the rolling element rolling groove 23 of the guide rail 21 is larger than the width dimension of the notch 52 formed in the case 40 in the notch 52 formed in the lubricant supply member 50. Since the pressing member 41 is fitted and generated, even if the lubricant supply member 50 is worn, the lubricant supply member 50 can always be brought into contact with the rolling element rolling groove 23 of the guide rail 21. .
Further, since the thickness of the guide rail 21 in the axial direction of the lubricant supply member 50 is equal to or smaller than the depth of the case 40 in the same direction, the lubricant is supplied in a plane orthogonal to the axial direction of the guide rail 21. The deformation and positioning of the member 50 can be performed smoothly.
The linear guide bearing device of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention.

For example, in the above embodiment, the linear motion guide bearing device using the cylindrical roller 26 as the rolling element is taken as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the linear motion guide bearing device using the ball as the rolling element (FIG. 8). It is a matter of course that the present invention can be applied to the reference).
In the above embodiment, the case where one lubricant supply member 50 is accommodated in the case 40 is taken as an example. However, a plurality of lubricant supply members 50 may be accommodated in the case. As shown in FIG. 8, together with the lubricant supply member 50 in a non-contact manner with respect to the guide rail 21 in a state in which a felt oil storage material 70 having substantially the same shape as the lubricant supply member 50 is impregnated with the lubricant. Further, it may be housed in a case 60 deeper than the case 40.
In this way, the oil storage material 70 secures an excessive amount of lubricant released from the lubricant supply member 50, or conversely, when the lubricant supply member 50 is depleted, it assists the supply of the lubricant. Thus, it is possible to supply a stable lubricant over a longer period of time.

It is the figure which fractured | ruptured one part for demonstrating the linear guide bearing apparatus which is an example of embodiment of this invention. It is a right view of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the inside of a case. It is a figure which shows a lubricant supply member. (A) is a figure which shows a case, (b) is a right view of (a). It is a figure which shows the state which accommodated the lubricant supply member in the case. It is a figure which shows the state which pressed the sliding contact part of the lubricant supply member accommodated in the case on the rolling element rolling groove of a guide rail. It is principal part sectional drawing for demonstrating the linear motion guide bearing apparatus which is other embodiment of this invention. It is the perspective view which fractured | ruptured a part which shows an example of the conventional linear motion guide bearing apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

20 linear motion guide bearing device 21 guide rail 22 slider 23 rolling element rolling groove (guide rail side)
25 Rolling element rolling groove (slider side)
26 Cylindrical rollers (rolling elements)
40 Case 41 Pressing member (convex part)
50 Lubricant supply member 52 Notch

Claims (4)

A guide rail having rolling element rolling grooves extending in the axial direction, and a rolling element rolling groove facing the rolling element rolling groove of the guide rail, and is inserted between these rolling element rolling grooves. A slider straddled on the guide rail so as to be relatively movable along the axial direction through rolling of a large number of rolling elements, and attached to an end portion in the axial direction of the slider, the rolling element rolling of the guide rail In a linear motion guide bearing device comprising a lubricant supply member that supplies a lubricant in sliding contact with a moving groove, and a case that houses the lubricant supply member so as to cover an outer peripheral portion.
The lubricant supply member is housed in the case so that its position is not restrained by the case, and a biasing force that presses the lubricant supply member against the rolling element rolling groove of the guide rail is applied to the lubricant supply. A linear motion guide bearing device characterized by being generated by housing a member in the case.   The urging force for pressing the lubricant supply member against the rolling element rolling groove of the guide rail is generated by deformation of the lubricant supply member in a plane orthogonal to the axial direction of the guide rail. The linear motion guide bearing device according to claim 1.   The urging force that presses the lubricant supply member against the rolling element rolling groove of the guide rail fits a notch formed in the lubricant supply member with a protrusion larger than the width dimension of the notch formed in the case. The linear motion guide bearing device according to claim 1, wherein the linear motion guide bearing device is generated by combining them.   The linear motion guide bearing according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an axial thickness of the guide rail of the lubricant supply member is equal to or smaller than a depth of the case in the same direction. apparatus.

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