JP2009112409A - Slide rail - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a slide rail that normally secures a slide rail function even when accuracy is varied and that causes no large restriction of an allowable load when installed on the bottom. <P>SOLUTION: The slide rail includes: a first outer member in which a ball bearing running face is formed on both end edges having a roughly C-shaped cross-section; a second outer member in which openings of the same structure are provided facing oppositely; an inner member which has a roughly H-shaped cross-section, which has one end mounted in the first outer member and the other end in the second outer member, and which has a ball bearing running path formed on the one end and the other end; and a first and a second ball retainer which hold in an array a plurality of ball bearings interposed in the ball bearing running path and which are mounted in the first and the second outer member. The inner member is also provided with a groove for interposing separate ball bearings is provided on the outer side of the center, with the separate ball bearings arrayed in the groove. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a slide rail composed of an outer member, a ball bearing, an inner member, and a ball retainer, particularly in a configuration in which two outer members are mounted face to face through the inner member. The present invention relates to a slide rail that ensures a normal slide rail function even when accuracy varies, and does not significantly reduce the allowable load even when installed on the bottom surface.

Since the slide rail is designed to have high accuracy and low resistance, it is widely used for movable parts such as precision machines, electronic devices, and copiers that require high accuracy. It is also widely used in places where heavy weight is applied, for example, doors at entrances and entrances and furniture such as multistage drawers used at home.
A conventional slide rail has a structure in which a ball retainer having a large number of balls is mounted between a fixed rail as an outer member and a moving rail as an inner member. The fixed rail has a substantially U-shaped cross section, and a ball bearing running surface made of a semicircular groove is formed inside a portion along both end edges. The moving rail (inner member) has a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional shape that enters the inside of the fixed rail (outer member), and includes a ball bearing running surface formed of a semicircular groove on the outer side of the portion along both edges. The ball bearing running surface of the fixed rail and the ball bearing running surface of the moving rail that face each other form a ball bearing running path, and the ball bearing held by the ball retainer is rotatably interposed in the ball bearing running path. .

The fixed rail (outer member) is fixed to the frame of the cabinet, and the moving rail (inner member) is fixed to the drawer or the movable member side. When the drawer is moved, the moving rail can slide relatively lightly and freely along the longitudinal direction of the fixed rail by rolling the ball bearing.
Each of the ball bearing travel paths has an arcuate cross-sectional shape having the same curvature as that of the ball bearing, and the moving rail that is movably mounted therein cannot be easily detached from the fixed rail.

  The slide rail used in the drawer has an advantage that the drawer can be opened and closed without applying a large force because the heavy drawer body can be moved with little friction. Many conventional slide rails are basically installed on the side of the drawer. When installed on the bottom of the drawer, the slide rail is pressed from above due to the weight of the drawer, and there is a limit to the allowable load that can open and close the drawer smoothly. When installed on the side, the width of the drawer is reduced by the amount of slide rails. Further, in the conventional slide rail, the fixed rail (outer member) and the moving rail (inner member) are in close contact with each other, and the play that allows distortion, twisting and the like cannot be provided. However, a cabinet, a drawer, etc. in which the outer member and the inner member are installed are distorted and tilted at the time of manufacture, resulting in variations in accuracy. In particular, wooden products tend to be distorted, tilted, etc., even with changes in humidity. In the conventional slide rail, when a cabinet or the like to be installed is distorted, tilted, or the like, there is no play that allows them, so that the slide rail function is hindered. Therefore, it is desirable to develop a slide rail that does not impede the function of the slide rail even if the accuracy of the cabinet, drawer, etc. varies, and that does not require a limit on the allowable load even when installed on the bottom of the drawer. It was.

Japanese Patent No. 3553394

  It is an object of the present invention to enable a sliding drawer body that is heavy to be moved with little friction and to open and close the drawer without applying a large force. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a slide rail that ensures the rail function normally and that does not significantly limit the allowable load even when installed on the bottom surface.

  In order to achieve the above object, a slide rail according to the present invention includes a first outer member and a second outer member having a ball bearing running surface, a ball bearing, and the outer members slid through the ball bearing. A slide rail comprising an inner member that can be connected and mounted, and a ball retainer that rotatably holds the ball bearing in each outer member. A first outer member having a ball bearing running surface formed of a semicircular groove along the longitudinal direction inside the arm portion, and an opening having a substantially cross-sectional shape of the first outer member having the same structure as the first outer member The second outer member installed so that the opening comes to face the arm, and one arm and the other end of the center rod are extended to the left and right It consists of a substantially cross-sectional mold with a part formed, one end mounted in the first outer member, the other end mounted in the second outer member, and the ball bearing running surface of the first outer member on both arms formed at one end A ball bearing running path is formed by forming a pair of semicircular groove ball bearing running surfaces, and a ball bearing running path having the same structure as both arm parts at one end is formed at both arm parts formed at the other end. The inner member and a plurality of ball bearings interposed in the ball bearing traveling path are aligned and held, and are constituted by first and second ball retainers mounted in the first and second outer members.

Further, the first outer member or the second outer member has an extension portion integrally extended on the substantially C-shaped back portion of the first outer member or the second outer member so as to be more securely fixed to the installation surface. It is also a configuration.
Furthermore, the first outer member or the second outer member is bent so as to be integrated with the outer frame inside the outer frame and the outer frame bent along the mounting surface so as to secure the fixing with the mounting surface. A ball bearing running surface consisting of a semicircular groove is formed along the longitudinal direction on the inner side of the arm part which extends the edge of the outer frame into a bowl shape, and the edge of the inner frame is made into a bowl shape. It is also the structure which formed the ball bearing running surface which consists of a semicircle groove | channel along the longitudinal direction inside the extended arm part.

  In addition, the inner member having a substantially cross-sectional shape has a shape in which a central collar is vertically divided into two parts and joined, and both end edges of one of the substantially two C-shaped sections that are vertically divided are half-armed to both arm portions that are extended into a saddle shape. The first inner member is formed of a first inner member having a ball bearing traveling surface formed of a circular groove formed in the longitudinal direction and a second inner member having the same shape as the other first inner member, and has a substantially sectional shape. And a substantially C-shaped back surface of the second inner member.

  In addition, the slide rail is provided with a groove that forms a ball bearing running surface for interposing another ball bearing at the center outer portion of the arm portion formed at one end and the other end of the center rod of the inner member having a substantially cross-sectional shape. And arranging the other ball bearings between the grooves and the inner walls of the first and second outer members, and first and second ball retainers for aligning and holding the other ball bearings. And it is also the structure mounted in the second outer member.

The slide rail according to the present invention has the following effects from the above-described configuration.
(1) Since there is a distance between the moving rail and the fixed rail, the slide rail function can be normally ensured even if the installed cabinet, the drawer, etc. are distorted and the accuracy varies such as torsion.
(2) Since the extension part is integrally extended on the back part of the 1st or 2nd outer member, fixation with an installation surface can be performed more reliably.
(3) Since the outer member is formed of the outer frame and the inner frame that are bent along the installation surface, it is possible to more reliably fix the installation member to the installation surface with a simple structure.

(4) Since the inner member is joined on the back surface, the existing outer member and inner member can be used, so that the member can be manufactured at low cost by using the members of the existing manufacturing line.
(5) The stability in the horizontal and vertical directions is increased, and even if it is installed on the bottom surface, there is no need to limit the allowable load, and performance equivalent to that of a conventional slide rail can be exhibited.

  Hereinafter, the slide rail concerning the present invention is explained based on the example shown in the drawing. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a slide rail according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a slide rail in which ball bearings are arranged on the outer side of the central rod of the inner member according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the slide rail according to the present invention in which the inner member is divided into a first inner member and a second inner member, and a bracket is added to the outer member. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of still another embodiment in which the outer member of the slide rail according to the present invention includes an outer frame and an inner frame. FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an outer member composed of an outer frame and an inner frame, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the outer member. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an outer member with an extended portion.

  A slide rail 10 according to the present invention includes a first outer member 20 and a second outer member 30 each having a ball bearing running surface, a ball bearing 40, and the outer members coupled to be slidable via the ball bearing. An inner member 50, and a first ball retainer 60 and a second ball retainer 70 that hold the ball bearings in the outer members in a rotatable manner.

As shown in FIG. 1, the slide rail 10 according to the present invention has an opening with the first outer member 20 and the second outer member 30 having the same structure as the second outer member 30 facing the opening of the first outer member 20. The outer members are installed so as to be slidably connected to each other by an inner member 50 having a substantially cross-sectionally shaped cross section.
In the embodiment, the first outer member 20 is a moving rail attached to a moving body such as a drawer. On the other hand, the second outer member 30 serves as a fixed rail that is attached to a fixed box such as a cabinet. In a normal slide rail, a moving body is attached to the inner member. In this embodiment, the moving body is attached to the first outer member 20 connected via the inner member 50.

  The first outer member 20 has a substantially C-shaped cross section, and an inner member 50 is slidably mounted therein via a ball bearing. Further, both end edges of a substantially C-shaped cross section are extended into a hook shape so as to further narrow the open end, and a ball bearing running surface 22 of a semicircular groove is formed on the inner side of both arm portions. It is the structure formed along 20 longitudinal directions. One end 50a of an inner member 50 having a substantially cross-sectional cross-sectional shape, which will be described later, is attached to the first outer member 20.

  The ball bearing running surface 22 is a groove for rotatably mounting the ball bearing, and forms a ball bearing running path by pairing with the ball bearing running surface 52a formed at one end 50a of the attached inner member 50. To do. A first ball retainer 60 is mounted in the first outer member 20. A ball bearing 40 that is aligned and held by a first ball retainer 60 described later is interposed in the ball bearing traveling path. The semicircular groove ball bearing running surface 22 is formed with the same radius of curvature as the outer periphery of the ball bearing 40.

  The second outer member 30 has the same structure as the first outer member 20. The second outer member 30 also has a substantially C-shaped cross section, and a ball bearing running surface 32 formed of a semicircular groove is formed in the longitudinal direction of the second outer member 30 on the inner side of both arm portions where both end edges of the C-shape are extended into a bowl shape. It is formed along. The semicircular groove ball bearing running surface 32 is formed with the same radius of curvature as the outer periphery of the ball bearing 40.

  The second outer member 30 is installed so that the opening faces the opening having a substantially C-shaped cross section of the first outer member 20, and the other end 50 b of the inner member 50 to be described later is attached. The ball bearing running surface 32 has the same structure as the ball bearing running surface 22 of the first outer member. The ball bearing running surface 32 is paired with a ball bearing running surface 52b formed on both arms of the other end 50b of the attached inner member 50 to form a ball bearing running path. A second ball retainer 70 is mounted in the second outer member 30, and a ball bearing 40 aligned and held by the second ball retainer 70 is interposed in the ball bearing traveling path.

  The ball bearing 40 includes two ball bearing travel paths formed by one end 50 a of the first outer member 20 and the inner member 50, and two ball bearings formed by the second outer member 30 and the other end 50 b of the inner member 50. It is installed on the road. The ball bearing 40 is aligned and held by first and second ball retainers 60 and 70 described later.

  The inner member 50 has a substantially letter-shaped cross section in which both ends of the center rod 51 are extended left and right to form an arm portion. One end 50 a that is one end of the central rod 51 is mounted in the first outer member 20, and the other end 50 b that is the other end is mounted in the second outer member 30. A ball bearing running surface 52a of a semicircular groove that forms a pair with the ball bearing running surface 22 of the first outer member 20 is formed inwardly on the inner side of both arm portions formed at one end 50a of the inner member 50.

  A ball bearing running surface 52b having a semicircular groove that forms a pair with the ball bearing running surface 32 of the second outer member 30 is also formed on both arms formed on the other end 50b of the inner member 50. The ball bearing running surfaces 52 a and 52 b at the one end 50 a and the other end 50 b are formed to have the same radius of curvature as the outer periphery of the ball bearing 40.

  The inner member 50 is formed so as to be slidable lightly and freely along the longitudinal direction of the fixed rail even with a light force by the ball bearing 40 interposed between the inner member 50 rolling freely. Further, the ball bearing 40 on which the first outer member 20 that is a moving rail is also rolled is formed to be slidable along the longitudinal direction of the inner member 50 that is an intermediate rail.

The first ball retainer 60 is mounted in the first outer member 20 and aligns and holds a plurality of ball bearings 40 interposed in the ball bearing travel path. The first ball retainer 60 includes two ball bearing rows that hold the plurality of ball bearings 40 in alignment.
The second ball retainer 70 has the same structure as the first ball retainer 60. The second ball retainer 70 is mounted in the second outer member 30.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of another slide rail according to the present invention, in which another large ball bearing 44 is arranged in the center of the ball bearing 40 shown in the embodiment of FIG.
The large ball bearing 44 is interposed between the groove 55 formed in the central outer portion of the arm portion formed at one end 50 a and the other end 50 b of the inner member 50 and the inner walls of the first and second outer members 20, 30. Is done. The large ball bearing 44 is aligned and held by a first ball retainer 60 and a second ball retainer 70 described later.

  The inner member 50 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 has a ball bearing running in which a large ball bearing 44 is interposed at the center outer side of the arm portion formed at one end 50a and the other end 50b of the central rod 51 having a substantially cross-sectionally shaped cross section. A groove 55 serving as a surface is provided. The groove 55 includes a groove 55 a formed at one end 50 a of the inner member 50 and a groove 50 b formed at the other end 50 b of the inner member 50. The groove 55a is formed in a substantially Y-shaped cross section at the center outer side by raising an arm portion formed at one end 50a of the inner member 50 from the horizontal direction to the vertical direction. The arm portion formed at the end 50b is raised from the horizontal direction to the vertical direction, so that a cross section is formed in a substantially Y shape at the center outer side portion.

  The grooves 55a and 55b are not limited to the embodiment in which the cross section is substantially Y-shaped. For example, the grooves 55a and 55b are semicircular grooves in the central outer part of the arm portion formed at both ends of the inner member 50 having a substantially cross-sectional shape. The shape which provided the ball bearing running surface which consists of may be sufficient. Further, the ball bearing 44 different from the ball bearing 40 is formed larger than the ball bearing 40, but the size is not limited to this embodiment.

  By mounting the ball bearing 44 in the groove 55a of the one end 50a and the groove 55b of the other end 50b of the inner member 50 separately from the ball bearing 40, the horizontal and vertical stability is increased, and the allowable load even when installed on the bottom surface. Therefore, even if some distortion occurs, the performance equivalent to that of the conventional slide rail can be exhibited.

  FIG. 3 shows still another embodiment of the present invention. An inner member 50 having a substantially cross-sectionally shaped cross section has a configuration in which a central collar is divided into two vertically, and a first inner member 56 having a substantially C-shaped cross section, This is a structure in which a substantially C-shaped back surface is integrally joined to the other second inner member 58 of the same shape so as to have a substantially cross-sectionally shaped character shape.

  In the first inner member 56, ball bearing running surfaces 52a and 52b formed of semicircular grooves are formed in the longitudinal direction at both end edges of a substantially C-shaped cross section. The second inner member 58 has the same shape as the first inner member 56 and is integrally joined back to back.

  The ball bearing running surface 52 a of the first inner member 56 and the ball bearing running surface 52 a of the second inner member 58 are mounted on the first outer member 20, and the ball is between the ball bearing running surface 22 of the first outer member 20. A ball bearing travel path is formed with the bearing 40 interposed. The same applies to the ball bearing running surface 52b of the first inner member 56 and the ball bearing running surface 52b of the second inner member 58.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the groove 55a at one end raises the surface of the first inner member 56 on which the ball bearing travel path 52a is formed, and the surface of the second inner member 58 on which the ball bearing travel path 52a is formed. Is formed into a substantially Y-shaped cross section. Similarly, the groove 55b at the other end raises the surface of the first inner member 56 on which the ball bearing travel path 52b is formed, and rises the surface of the second inner member 58 on which the ball bearing travel path 52a is formed. To form a substantially Y-shaped cross section.

  By configuring the inner member 50 with the first inner member 56 having a substantially C-shaped cross section and the second inner member 58, the conventional outer member and parts manufactured on the inner member production line can be used as they are. Can do. Therefore, not only can the initial investment be suppressed, but the production line has versatility, so that it is easy to change the production line according to demand, which is economical.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, an L-shaped or inverted L-shaped bracket 34 is integrally joined to the back surface of the second outer member 30. The bottom surface of the L-shaped bracket 34 is integrally joined to the back surface of the second outer member 30, and the side surface is fixed to a cabinet or the like by a coupling member (not shown) such as a screw. The second outer member 30 is attached to the cabinet or the like by fixing the bracket 34 to the cabinet or the like. If the bracket 34 is joined to the back surface of the second outer member 30, a space can be provided under the second outer member 30.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the second outer member 30, which is a fixed rail, has an extension portion 39 integrally formed on the substantially C-shaped back portion along the installation surface, instead of integrally joining the bracket 34 to the back surface. It can be set as the extended structure. With such a structure, the mounting surface can be enlarged without providing the bracket 34, and the fixing with the installation surface can be ensured.

  In the embodiment in which the bracket is provided, the second outer member 30 is a fixed rail that is mounted on a fixed box such as a cabinet. However, the first outer member 20 may be used as a fixed rail, and the second outer member may be used as a moving rail. Further, the first outer member 20 may be provided with a bracket, or an extension for ensuring fixation with the installation surface may be formed.

  Further, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the second outer member 30 that is a fixed rail includes an outer frame 36 bent along the installation surface, and an inner frame bent so as to be integrated with the outer frame inside the outer frame. 38. FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the second outer member 30 including the outer frame 36 and the inner frame 38. In the outer frame 36, a ball bearing running surface 362 made of a semicircular groove is formed along the longitudinal direction of the second outer member 30 on the inner side of the arm portion having the edge of the outer frame extended in a bowl shape. The inner frame 38 is formed with a ball bearing running surface 382 formed of a semicircular groove along the longitudinal direction of the second outer member 30 on the inner side of the arm portion obtained by extending the edge of the inner frame 38 into a bowl shape. Yes.

  The ball bearing running surface 362 of the outer frame 36 and the ball bearing running surface 382 of the inner frame 38 are formed to have the same radius of curvature as the outer periphery of the ball bearing 40. The other end 50 b of the inner member 50 is also attached to the second outer member 30 composed of the outer frame 36 and the inner frame 38. The ball bearing running surface 362 of the outer frame 36 and the ball bearing running surface 382 of the inner frame are paired with the ball bearing running surface 52b formed at the other end 50b of the attached inner member 50 to form a ball bearing running path. To do.

  In addition, it is not limited to the Example which uses the 2nd outer member 30 as a fixed rail, It is good also as a structure which consists of the outer frame 32 and the inner frame 34 by making the 1st outer member 20 into a fixed rail. Further, the first outer member 20 that is a moving rail may be configured by an outer frame and an inner frame.

  A conventional slide rail is composed of an inverted approximately U-shaped outer member that is a fixed rail and an approximately U-shaped inner member that is a moving rail. In contrast, in the present invention, the inner member 50, which is an intermediate rail having a substantially cross-sectional cross section, can be slid through the ball bearing 40 between the first outer member 20 that is a moving rail and the second outer member 30 that is a fixed rail. Connected. Therefore, there is a distance between the fixed rail and the moving rail, and even if distortion or twist occurs between the fixed rail and the moving rail, the inner member 50 can balance and absorb it. Further, grooves 55 a and 55 b are formed at one end 50 a and the other end 50 b of the inner member 50, and a ball bearing 44 other than the ball bearing 40 is interposed. In the slide rail 10 of the present invention, since the large ball bearing 44 not included in the conventional slide rail receives the vertical load, the ball bearing 40 is not compressed even when a vertical load is applied. With such a structure, the slide rail 10 of the present invention can be installed on the bottom surface of a drawer, etc., and even if variations occur in the accuracy of the installed cabinet, drawer, etc., it absorbs them and has an allowance to allow. It is the structure which can be made to.

  In the conventional slide rail, if the accuracy of the installed cabinet or the drawer has varied, the slide rail function has been hindered. However, the present invention can be applied even if the accuracy of the installed cabinet or the drawer has some variation. Since the member 50 absorbs them, the slide rail function can be prevented from being lowered.

Sectional view of slide rail according to the present invention Sectional drawing of the slide rail which arranged the ball bearing in the outer side part of the center rod of the inner member which concerns on this invention Sectional drawing of the slide rail which divided | segmented the inner member which concerns on this invention into the 1st inner member and the 2nd inner member, and added the bracket to the outer member Sectional drawing of the Example which the outer member of the slide rail which concerns on this invention consists of an outer frame and an inner frame Sectional drawing of the outer member which consists of an outer frame and an inner frame concerning this invention Cross section of outer member Sectional drawing of the outer member which extended the extension part which concerns on this invention

Explanation of symbols

10 slide rail 20 first outer member 22 ball bearing running surface 30 second outer member 32 ball bearing running surface 34 bracket 36 outer frame 362 ball bearing running surface 38 inner frame 382 ball bearing running surface 39 extension 40 ball bearing 44 large ball Bearing 50 Inner member 50a Inner member end 50b Inner member other end 51 Central flange 52a Ball bearing running surface 52b formed at one end Ball bearing running surface 56 formed at the other end First inner member 58 Second inner member 60 First ball retainer 70 Second ball retainer

Claims (5)

A first outer member and a second outer member having a ball bearing running surface, a ball bearing, an inner member for slidably connecting the two outer members via the ball bearing, and the ball bearing being rotatable. In a slide rail consisting of a ball retainer held in each outer member
A first outer member in which a ball bearing running surface made of a semicircular groove is formed along the longitudinal direction on the inner side of both arm portions of which both end edges of a substantially C-shaped cross section are extended in a bowl shape;
A second outer member that has the same structure as the first outer member and is disposed so that the opening comes in opposition to the opening of the substantially outer cross-section of the first outer member;
It consists of a cross-section that is formed by extending one end and the other end of the center rod to the left and right to form an arm part. One end is mounted in the first outer member and the other end is mounted in the second outer member. A ball bearing running surface is formed by forming a semi-circular groove ball bearing running surface that forms a pair with the ball bearing running surface of the first outer member on the arm portion, and both arm portions formed at the other end also have both ends on one end. An inner member that forms a ball bearing travel path having the same structure as the arm,
A plurality of ball bearings interposed in the ball bearing travel path, and a first and second ball retainer mounted in the first and second outer members;
A slide rail characterized by the fact that The first outer member or the second outer member is
2. The slide rail according to claim 1, wherein an extension portion is integrally extended on the substantially C-shaped back portion of the first outer member or the second outer member so as to secure the fixing with the installation surface. The first outer member or the second outer member is
It consists of an outer frame that is bent along the installation surface so that it can be more securely fixed to the installation surface, and an inner frame that is bent so as to be integrated with the outer frame inside the outer frame. A ball bearing running surface made of a semicircular groove is formed along the longitudinal direction inside the arm portion extended in a saddle shape, and a ball made of a semicircular groove on the inner side of the arm portion extended from the inner frame at the edge of the inner frame. 3. The slide rail according to claim 1, wherein the bearing running surface is formed along the longitudinal direction. The inner member of the cross-section substantially engineering type is
It is a shape where the center rod is vertically divided and joined,
A first inner member in which a ball bearing running surface made of a semicircular groove is formed in the longitudinal direction on both arm portions of which both ends of a substantially C-shaped cross section divided into two vertical parts are extended in a bowl shape, and the other first inner member The first inner member and the substantially C-shaped back surface of the second inner member are integrally joined to each other so as to have a substantially cross-sectional mold shape. 3. The slide rail according to 3. The slide rail is
A groove for forming a ball bearing running surface for interposing another ball bearing is provided on the central outer portion of the arm portion formed at one end and the other end of the central rod of the inner member having a substantially cross-sectional shape, and the groove The other ball bearings are arranged between the inner walls of the first and second outer members and the first and second ball retainers for aligning and holding the other ball bearings are arranged in the first and second outer members. The slide rail according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the slide rail is mounted on the slide rail.

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