JP2008002660A - Linear guide - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a linear guide improvable in noise property and operability by integrally fixing a rectangular cage and an end cap to a slider body without giving unfavorable effects to productivity and functionality. <P>SOLUTION: The linear guide comprises two resin rolling element cages for holding rolling elements laid between a rail side rolling element rolling groove and a slider side rolling element rolling groove, the cages having two plates which abut on the end face of the slider body. Two plate storage recessed portions 33 for storing the plates are formed on the back face of the end cap 19. The depth of the plate storage recessed portion 33 is not greater than the thickness of the plate of the rolling element cage. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a linear motion guide device that guides a linearly moving object in its moving direction, and in particular, a rolling element that holds a rolling element interposed between a rail-side rolling element rolling groove and a slider-side rolling element rolling groove. The present invention relates to a linear motion guide device using a rectangular rolling element holder as a moving body holder.

Conventionally, as a linear motion guide device using a rectangular rolling element cage, there is one in which a resin circulation path component is formed separately from a slider body (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In addition, as a linear motion guide device in which a resin molding is integrally formed on a slider, at least a part of the slider body and the resin rolling element circulation path is integrally molded by molding to the slider side rolling element rolling groove as a reference. There is what I did.
Japanese Patent No. 3571911 (page 44, Fig. 40-41) JP 7-317762 A (page 10, Fig. 1-2)

  As described above, when the rolling element circulation path is formed of a resin member, the rolling element does not come into metal contact with the slider body, so that the operability and noise characteristics can be improved. In addition, by making the rolling element cage rectangular, it is possible to integrate each holding portion and to easily fix the rolling element cage to the slider, thereby improving productivity by reducing the number of parts. It is possible to improve the adhesion between the rolling element cage and the slider, and as a result, it is possible to improve the noise characteristics while suppressing the rattling of the parts at the time of operation, and to improve the holding ability of the rolling elements. Is possible.

  However, as shown in Patent Document 2, in the method in which the resin circulation path component is integrally formed on the slider body made of metal, the continuity of the connecting portion is improved as much as possible, and the rolling element circulation path Although it is expected that the adhesion force to the slider body will increase due to the residual tensile stress of the plastic circuit components that make up the molding conditions, molding conditions are required to prevent the mold from becoming complex and from shrinking and deformation at locations with different wall thicknesses. Are constrained and may adversely affect productivity. Further, when the residual stress is intentionally increased, there is a possibility that a crack may occur at the edge portion of the resin circulation path constituting member.

  Further, as shown in Patent Document 1, when the resin circulation path constituting member is divided and assembled, a dimensional error occurs in each molded part, and the end cap has a smaller thickness than the thickness of the thin plate portion of the return guide. If the depth of the step plate portion receiving recess becomes larger, the end cap is fixed to the slider body with a gap between the thin plate portion of the return guide and the step plate portion receiving recess, and the fixing force is reduced. The weak return guide may vibrate, which may adversely affect operability due to deterioration of noise characteristics and displacement of parts.

Also, if the end cap is fastened to the end face of the slider body by providing a gap between the plate portion of the rolling element cage and the end cap, the fastening force may be reduced or the fastening parts may be loosened due to creep deformation of the resin parts. There is sex. Furthermore, when creep deformation of the resin component occurs, the outer peripheral side guide surface of the direction changing path formed between the end cap and the return guide may also be deformed, and the operability and noise characteristics may be deteriorated.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to improve the noise characteristics and the operability by fixing the rectangular cage and the end cap integrally to the slider body without adversely affecting the productivity and function. It is to provide a motion guide device.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 1 is incorporated in a guide rail formed in a straight line, a slider that moves relative to the longitudinal direction of the guide rail, and a rollable in the slider. A plurality of rolling elements, and a slider main body having a plurality of slider-side rolling element rolling grooves respectively opposed to a plurality of rail-side rolling element rolling grooves formed on the guide rail, A pair of end caps attached to one end and the other end of the slider body, and communicates with a rolling element load rolling path between the rail side rolling element rolling groove and the slider side rolling element rolling groove and the slider A plurality of return guides formed between the end cap and a direction change path communicating with the rolling element return passage formed in the body, the rail side rolling element rolling groove and the slider side rolling element rolling groove; Intervene A linear motion guide device including two rolling element holders that hold a moving body, and the rolling element holder includes two plate portions that are clamped by a fixing member between the slider body and the end cap. In this embodiment, the plate portion receiving recess for receiving the plate portion is provided in the end cap, and the depth of the plate portion receiving recess is set to be equal to or less than the plate portion thickness of the rolling element cage.

  The invention of claim 2 comprises a linearly formed guide rail, a slider that moves relative to the longitudinal direction of the guide rail, and a number of rolling elements that are rotatably incorporated in the slider. A slider body having a plurality of slider-side rolling element rolling grooves respectively opposed to a plurality of rail-side rolling element rolling grooves formed on the guide rail, and mounted on one end and the other end of the slider body. A pair of end caps, and a rolling element return passage formed in the slider body and in communication with a rolling element load rolling path between the rail side rolling element rolling groove and the slider side rolling element rolling groove. A plurality of return guides that form a direction change path that communicates with the end cap and a rolling element that is interposed between the rail-side rolling element rolling groove and the slider-side rolling element rolling groove. One rolling element holding And the rolling element holder includes two plate portions that are clamped by a fixing member between the slider body and the end cap, and a plate portion that houses the plate portion An accommodating recess is provided in the end cap, the depth of the plate portion accommodating recess is substantially the same as the thickness of the plate portion, and a joint portion between the plate portion of the rolling element retainer and the end surface portion of the slider body. The rigidity is greater than the rigidity of the joint between the end cap and the end face of the slider body.

  In the linear motion guide device according to the present invention, when the retainer and the end cap are integrally fixed to the slider body, the fixing member for fixing the end cap to the slider body overlaps the end cap and the retainer (plate Because the end cap and the cage are fixed to the end surface portion of the slider body so as to pass through the inside of the portion accommodating recess, and the thickness of the plate portion of the rolling element retainer is larger than the depth of the plate portion accommodating recess. Since both the plate portion receiving recess and the cage of the end cap are fixed to the slider body without any gap before the back portion of the end cap excluding the plate portion receiving recess is joined to the end surface portion of the slider body. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of rattling of parts that reduce noise characteristics and operability.

  On the other hand, even when the depth of the plate portion receiving recess is substantially the same as the thickness of the plate portion of the cage, the rigidity of the joint portion between the plate portion of the cage and the end surface portion of the slider body is determined by the end cap and the end surface portion of the slider body. When the cage and end cap are integrally fixed to the slider body, the end cap and slider body end surface are joined from the joint portion of the cage plate portion and slider body end surface portion. The joint part with the part is greatly deformed. Thereby, since both the plate accommodation recessed part of an end cap and a holder | retainer are fixed without a space | gap with respect to a slider main body, it can suppress that the backlash of components which reduces a noise characteristic and operativity generate | occur | produces. . Further, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a gap that allows entry of foreign matter or leakage of the lubricant between the end surface portion of the slider body and the back surface portion of the end cap.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a front view of a linear motion guide device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. As described above, the linear motion guide device according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a guide rail 11 formed in a straight line, a slider 12 that moves relative to the longitudinal direction of the guide rail 11, and a slider 12. A large number of balls 13 as rolling elements incorporated so as to be freely rollable, and a plurality of (for example, four) rolling element interval holding belts 14 that keep the intervals between the balls 13 so that the balls do not interfere with each other. Has been.

  The guide rail 11 is made of a metal material such as steel and has rail-side rolling element rolling grooves 15a, 15b, 15c, and 15d (see FIG. 4). Of these rail-side rolling element rolling grooves 15a to 15b, the rail-side rolling element rolling grooves 15a and 15b are formed at the intersection of the upper surface portion and the left and right side surfaces of the guide rail 11, and the rail-side rolling element rolling grooves are formed. 15 c and 15 d are formed on the left and right side portions of the guide rail 11.

  Similar to the guide rail 11, the slider 12 includes a slider body 16 made of a metal material. The slider body 16 has a gate-shaped cross section along the width direction of the guide rail 11, and the inner surface thereof has a slider side facing the rail side rolling element rolling grooves 15a to 15d as shown in FIG. Rolling body rolling grooves 17 a, 17 b, 17 c and 17 d are formed along the longitudinal direction of the guide rail 11. Further, the slider body 16 has block-like rolling element circulation portions 161 and 161 (see FIG. 5) on both sides of the guide rail 11, and in these rolling element circulation portions 161 and 161, there is a rolling element return passage. 18 are provided two by two in parallel with the slider-side rolling element rolling grooves 17a to 17d.

  The slider 12 also includes a pair of end caps 19, 19 attached to one end and the other end of the slider body 16, and four return guides 20 incorporated into the end caps 19. (See FIG. 2). The end cap 19 is attached to one end and the other end of the slider body 16 by a plurality of (for example, four) screws 21 (see FIG. 2), and has an oil supply port 22 (see FIG. 6). Further, the end cap 19 is made of a synthetic resin material, and an oil supply path for forming a lubricant supply path for supplying a lubricant such as grease supplied from the oil supply port 22 to the balls 13 is formed between the end cap 19 and the slider body 16. Formation grooves 23a and 23b are formed (see FIG. 6).

  Like the end cap 19, the return guide 20 is made of a synthetic resin material, and a direction changing path 24 (see FIG. 2) curved in a substantially U shape is formed between the return guide 20 and the end cap 19. Each of the direction change paths 24 communicates with a rolling element load rolling path between the rail side rolling element rolling grooves 15a to 15d and the slider side rolling element rolling grooves 17a to 17d, and the rolling element return path 18. Communicating with Accordingly, the ball 13 that has been rolling on the rolling element load along with the relative linear motion of the slider 12 changes direction on the direction changing path 24 and then rolls on the rolling element return passage 18.

The rolling element spacing belt 14 is made of a soft material such as a thermoplastic elastomer, has flexibility, and has a large number of rolling element accommodation holes (not shown) for accommodating the balls 13 one by one. .
The slider 12 further includes a pair of side seals 25 that seal the gap between the guide rail 11 and the end cap 19, and a plurality of (for example, the twisting of the rolling element spacing retaining belt 14 in the rolling element return passage 18. 4) belt twist preventing members 26 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). These belt torsion preventing members 26 have a cylindrical shape, and guide grooves 27 and 27 for guiding the left and right end portions of the rolling element spacing holding belt 14 in the axial direction of the belt torsion preventing member 26 are formed on the inner peripheral surface thereof. Is formed (see FIG. 7). Further, the belt twist preventing member 26 is made of a synthetic resin material and is inserted into the rolling element return passage 18 of the slider body 16.

The slider 12 further includes two rolling element holders 28 for holding the balls 13 interposed between the rail side rolling element rolling grooves 15a to 15d and the slider side rolling element rolling grooves 17a to 17d. (See FIG. 3). These rolling element holders 28 are made of a synthetic resin material and have plate portions 281 and 281 (see FIG. 9).
The plate portions 281 and 281 of the rolling element holder 28 are opposed to each other, and screw insertion holes 29a and 29b through which the screws 21 pass are formed in these plate portions 281 and 281 and the end cap 19 An oil supply passage forming groove 30 communicating with the oil supply passage forming groove 23a (or 23b) is formed, and further, a rolling element between the rail side rolling element rolling grooves 15a to 15d and the slider side rolling element rolling grooves 17a to 17d. Rolling member passage forming portions 31a and 31b that form rolling member passages between the load rolling passage and the direction changing passage 24 are formed by cutting the plate portion 281 in an arc shape, and the rolling member return passage 18 and Passage connection holes 32 a and 32 b that connect the direction change path 24 are formed.

  Further, the plate portions 281 and 281 of the rolling element retainer 28 are sandwiched between the slider body 16 and the end cap 19, and the end cap 19 has plate portion receiving recesses 33 and 33 (see FIGS. 6 and 10). Is provided at a depth equal to or less than the thickness of the plate portion 281, and convex portions 34 and 34 (see FIG. 11) that contact the slider body 16 are provided so as to surround the oil supply passage forming grooves 23 a and 23 b. ing. In addition, it is desirable that the depth of the plate portion accommodating recess 33 is shallower by about 0 to 0.2 mm than the plate portion thickness of the rolling element holder 28.

  In such a configuration, after the rolling element holder 28 is assembled to the slider body 16 and the end cap 19 is attached to one end and the other end of the slider body 16, the end cap 19 and the plate portion 281 of the rolling element holder 28 Are screwed on top of each other. The thickness of the plate portion 281 of the rolling element holder 28 is larger than the depth of the plate portion accommodating recess 33 formed in the back surface portion of the end cap 19. Therefore, the plate portion receiving surface of the end cap 19, the plate portion 281 of the rolling element holder 28, and the plate portion 281 of the rolling element holder 28 and the end face portion of the slider main body 16 are fixed without gaps. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent a decrease in operability and noise characteristics.

In the present embodiment, since the depth of the plate accommodating portions 33 and 33 is shallower than the thickness of the plate portion of the end cap 19, a gap that causes leakage of the lubricant is formed between the end cap 19 and the plate portion 281 of the rolling element holder 28. It does not occur between.
Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the convex parts 34 and 34 which contact | abut to the slider main body 16 are provided in the end cap 19 so that the oil supply path formation grooves 23a and 23b may be surrounded, the plate part thickness of the rolling element holder | retainer 28 is set. Even if there is a gap between the back portion of the end cap 19 where the oil supply passage forming grooves 23a and 23b are formed and the slider body 16 due to a molding error, the oil supply passage formation grooves 23a and 23b are formed. It is possible to prevent the lubricant from leaking from 23b.

Furthermore, since the contact area of the protrusion 34 with the slider body 16 is smaller than the contact area of the rolling element holder 28 with the end cap 19, the protrusion 34 can be easily deformed in the height direction by the tightening force of the screw 21. (Ie, the rigidity is low), and as a result, it is possible to prevent a gap from being generated between the slider body 16 and the end cap 19.
In the first embodiment described above, the convex portion 34 that contacts the slider body 16 is provided on the back surface portion of the end cap 19 so as to surround the oil supply passage forming grooves 23a and 23b. However, as shown in FIGS. The same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained by providing the protrusion 34 that contacts the slider body 16 on the back surface of the end cap 19 along the outer edge of the end cap 19.

Moreover, the cross-sectional shape of the convex part 34 is not restricted to the shape shown in FIG.11 and FIG.13, For example, as shown in FIG. 14, the cross-sectional shape of the convex part 34 may be wedge shape.
As in the third embodiment shown in FIG. 15, instead of providing the projecting portion 34 in contact with the slider body 16 on the back surface portion of the end cap 19, a sheet 35 made of a soft material such as a thermoplastic elastomer is attached to the slider body 16. By providing the gap between the end cap 19 and covering the oil supply passage forming grooves 23a and 23b with the seat 35, the same effects as those of the first and second embodiments can be obtained.
Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the example in which the rolling element interval holding belt and the belt twist prevention member are employed has been described, but it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to a linear motion guide device that does not employ these.

It is a front view of the linear motion guide apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view of the linear motion guide apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which follows the III-III line of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the guide rail shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing of the slider main body shown in FIG. It is a rear view of the end cap and return guide shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the belt twist preventing member shown in FIG. 3. It is a front view of the rolling element holder | retainer shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a side view of the rolling element cage shown in FIG. 9. It is sectional drawing which follows the XX line of FIG. It is sectional drawing which follows the XI-XI line of FIG. It is a rear view of the end cap and return guide in the linear guide apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which follows the XIII-XIII line | wire of FIG. It is a figure which shows the modification of the convex part shown in FIG. It is a rear view of the end cap and return guide in the linear guide apparatus which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

11 Guide rail 12 Slider 13 Ball (rolling element)
14 Rolling element spacing belt 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d Rail side rolling element rolling groove 16 Slider body 17a, 17b, 17c, 17d Slider side rolling element rolling groove 18 Rolling element return passage 19 End cap 20 Return guide 21 Screw 22 Oil supply port 23a, 23b, 30 Oil supply passage forming groove 24 Direction change passage 25 Side seal 26 Belt twist preventing member 27 Guide groove 28 Rolling element holder 281 Plate portion 29a, 29b Screw insertion hole 31a, 31b Rolling member passage forming portion 32a , 32b Passage connection hole 33 Plate portion receiving recess 34 Projection

Claims (2)

A guide rail formed in a straight line; a slider that moves relatively in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail; and a number of rolling elements that are rotatably incorporated in the slider. A slider body having a plurality of slider-side rolling element rolling grooves respectively opposed to the plurality of rail-side rolling element rolling grooves formed on, a pair of end caps attached to one end and the other end of the slider body, A direction change path communicating with a rolling element load rolling path between the rail side rolling element rolling groove and the slider side rolling element rolling groove and communicating with a rolling element return path formed in the slider body. A plurality of return guides formed between the end cap, and two rolling element holders for holding the rolling elements interposed between the rail-side rolling element rolling grooves and the slider-side rolling element rolling grooves. Including and before In rolling linear guide apparatus having two plate portions that are clamped at a fixed member between the body cage is to the slider body and the end cap,
A linear motion guide device characterized in that a plate portion accommodating recess for accommodating the plate portion is provided in the end cap, and the depth of the plate portion accommodating recess is equal to or less than the plate portion thickness of the rolling element holder. A guide rail formed in a straight line; a slider that moves relatively in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail; and a number of rolling elements that are rotatably incorporated in the slider. A slider body having a plurality of slider-side rolling element rolling grooves respectively opposed to the plurality of rail-side rolling element rolling grooves formed on, a pair of end caps attached to one end and the other end of the slider body, A direction change path communicating with a rolling element load rolling path between the rail side rolling element rolling groove and the slider side rolling element rolling groove and communicating with a rolling element return path formed in the slider body. A plurality of return guides formed between the end cap, and two rolling element holders for holding the rolling elements interposed between the rail-side rolling element rolling grooves and the slider-side rolling element rolling grooves. Including and before In rolling linear guide apparatus having two plate portions that are clamped at a fixed member between the body cage is to the slider body and the end cap,
A plate portion receiving recess for receiving the plate portion is provided in the end cap, the depth of the plate portion receiving recess is substantially the same as the thickness of the plate portion, and the plate portion of the rolling element holder and the slider body A linear guide device characterized in that the rigidity of the joint portion with the end face portion of the slider is larger than the rigidity of the joint portion between the end cap and the end face portion of the slider body.

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