JP2009127729A - Cap for mounting hole and linear motion guide device equipped with it - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mass-producible and cost-reducible cap for a mounting hole and a linear motion guide device equipped with it maintaining a top face of the cap and a top face of a guide rail in a flush state. <P>SOLUTION: The cap for a mounting hole is fit in a spot facing hole upper part of the mounting hole of the guide rail composing the linear motion guide device, and it blocks the mounting hole after bolt insertion. The cap for the mounting hole includes a substantially circular cap head having an outer diameter dimension corresponding to a hole diameter of the spot facing hole, and a protrusion formed integrally with the cap head so as to extend in an axial direction from one side face of the cap head. A tip of the protrusion is thinner than a base part of the protrusion such that it can be radially deformed by contact with a bolt inserted into the mounting hole. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a mounting hole cap for closing a mounting hole of a guide rail constituting a linear motion guide device used in an industrial machine or the like, and a linear motion guide device including the cap.

  As a conventional linear motion guide device of this type, for example, as shown in FIG. 12, a guide rail 1 extending in the axial direction and a slider 2 laid on the guide rail 1 so as to be movable in the axial direction are provided. Is known. Linear rolling element rolling grooves 3 extending in the axial direction are formed on both side surfaces of the guide rail 1, and mounting holes 20 penetrating to the lower surface are formed on the upper surface of the guide rail 1 at predetermined intervals in the axial direction. A plurality of portions are formed, and in the slider main body 2 </ b> A of the slider 2, linear rolling element rolling grooves 9 that face the rolling element rolling grooves 3 are formed on the inner side surfaces of both sleeve portions 4. .

  A large number of steel balls B as rolling elements are slidably loaded between the rolling grooves 3, 9 facing each other, and the slider 2 is guided through the rolling of the steel balls B. The rail 1 can be moved along the axial direction. With this movement, the steel ball B interposed between the guide rail 1 and the slider 2 rolls and moves to the end of the slider body 2A of the slider 2, but the slider 2 is continuously moved in the axial direction. In order to go, it is necessary to circulate these steel balls B infinitely.

  Therefore, a linear rolling element passage 8 penetrating in the axial direction is further formed in the sleeve portion 4 of the slider body 2A, and end caps 5 as rolling element circulation parts are fixed to the front and rear ends of the slider body 2A, respectively. By forming a rolling element circulation R portion 6 curved in a semicircular arc shape that communicates between the rolling element rolling grooves 3 and 9 and the rolling element passage 8 in the end cap 5, the rolling element infinite circulation trajectory is formed. It is composed.

  By the way, the linear guide device is attached to the base or the like by inserting a bolt 10 (see FIG. 15) into the mounting hole 20 of the guide rail 1 and screwing the threaded portion of the bolt 10 into the screw hole of the base. The linear motion guide device is attached to a base or the like by combining, and after such attachment, a cap made of synthetic resin or the like is fitted into the upper part of the counterbore 21 of the attachment hole 20 to attach the linear motion guide device. Occlude.

Various structures have been devised as conventional caps for closing the mounting holes 20 (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). For example, as shown in FIG. 13, the cap 30 described in Patent Document 1 is configured by a short cylindrical portion 32 having a tightening margin portion 31 provided on the outer peripheral surface, and the tightening margin portion 31 is attached to the counterbore 21. It is described that it is fitted. The cap 40 described in Patent Document 2 includes a cap head 41, a leg 42 extending downward from the cap head 41, and a notch 43 formed over the entire circumference of the leg 42. Have. The cap 40 closes the mounting hole 20 while buckling and deforming the notch 43 so that the upper surface of the cap head 41 and the surface of the guide rail 1 are flush with each other.
JP 2002-227838 A JP 2006-242339 A

  By the way, when the mounting hole 20 is closed with the cap 30 described in Patent Document 1, the cap 30 is fitted so that the upper surface of the guide rail 1 and the upper surface of the cap 30 are flush with each other. A gap may occur between 30. In this case, as shown in FIG. 15, when a force that pushes the cap 30 from above is generated, or when the cap 30 is elastically deformed by a force acting on the inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole 20, the cap 30 and the mounting hole 20. There is a possibility that the tightening allowance will be loosened and the cap 30 will sink. As a result, a step is generated between the upper surface of the guide rail 1 and the upper surface of the cap 30, and there is a problem that foreign matters such as dust and dust are likely to accumulate.

  On the other hand, when the cap 40 described in Patent Document 2 is integrally formed, it is necessary to use a core to form the notch 43, so that the structure of the mold becomes complicated and the die cutting operation is complicated. It will be something. For this reason, mass production of a cap is difficult and there exists a problem that cost increases.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a cap for mounting holes that can keep the upper surface of the cap and the upper surface of the guide rail flush with each other and can be mass-produced and reduced in cost. And it is providing the linear motion guide apparatus provided with the same.

The above object of the present invention is achieved by the following configurations.
(1) A mounting hole cap that is fitted in the upper part of the counterbore of the mounting hole of the guide rail constituting the linear motion guide device and closes the mounting hole after the bolt is inserted,
A substantially circular cap head having an outer diameter corresponding to the hole diameter of the counterbore,
A protrusion protruding from one side of the cap head and formed integrally with the cap head;
With
A cap for a mounting hole, wherein the tip of the projection is thinner than the base of the projection so as to be deformable in a radial direction by contacting the bolt inserted into the mounting hole.
(2) The protrusion is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape at a position away from the center of the cap head by a predetermined distance,
The cap for mounting holes according to (1), wherein the inner diameter of the protrusion has a tapered shape that gradually increases in diameter toward the tip.
(3) The protrusions are formed in a substantially cylindrical shape at a predetermined distance from the center of the cap head, and slits are formed at substantially equal intervals in the circumferential direction (1). ) Cap for mounting holes as described in).
(4) The mounting hole cap according to (1), wherein a tip portion of the protrusion has a curved surface shape.
(5) A guide having a linear rolling element rolling groove extending in the axial direction on both sides, extending in the axial direction, and having a plurality of mounting holes penetrating from the upper surface to the lower surface at predetermined intervals in the axial direction A rail, a mounting hole cap that fits in the upper part of the counterbore of the mounting hole and closes the mounting hole, and a linear rolling element rolling groove facing the rolling element rolling groove of the guide rail. And a slider supported by the guide rail so as to be movable along the axial direction through rolling of a large number of rolling elements inserted between these rolling element rolling grooves. And
The mounting hole cap includes a substantially circular cap head having an outer diameter corresponding to the hole diameter of the counterbore hole, and a protrusion formed integrally with the cap head that protrudes from the cap head. With
The linear motion guide device according to claim 1, wherein a tip portion of the projection is thinner than a base portion of the projection so as to be deformable in a radial direction by contacting the bolt inserted into the mounting hole.

  According to the mounting hole cap and linear motion guide device of the present invention, the mounting hole cap projects from the cap head having a substantially circular cap head having an outer diameter corresponding to the hole diameter of the counterbore hole. A protrusion formed integrally with the cap head, and the tip of the protrusion is thinner than the base of the protrusion so that it can be deformed in the radial direction by contacting a bolt inserted into the mounting hole. is there. As a result, even when a force to push from above the cap is generated, the tip of the protrusion is in contact with the bolt inserted into the mounting hole, so that the cap does not sink, and the top surface of the cap and the top surface of the guide rail Can be kept flush with each other. Further, by making the tip portion of the protrusion thinner than the base portion, a complicated mold is not required at the time of molding, and production can be easily performed by injection molding, and mass production and cost reduction are possible.

(First embodiment)
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a first embodiment of a mounting hole cap and a linear guide device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the configuration of the linear motion guide device of the present embodiment is the same as that shown in FIG. 12 except for the configuration of the cap, and therefore description thereof will be omitted. Only the cap will be described here.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cap 50 is made of a resin material, is fitted into the upper part of the counterbore 21 of the mounting hole 20 of the guide rail 1, and closes the mounting hole 20 after the bolt is inserted. As the material of the cap 50, polyethylene, polyacetal, and other various elastomers (for example, perprene) can be applied. However, the cap 50 has appropriate flexibility and strength as a cap, and is excellent in moldability for mass production. Suitable and relatively low cost polyethylene is preferred.

  The cap 50 projects from a substantially circular cap head 51 having an outer diameter corresponding to the hole diameter of the counterbore 21 of the guide rail 1 and one side surface 51 a of the cap head 51, and is integrated with the cap head 51. And a protrusion 52 formed on the surface.

  The cap head 51 is formed with a plurality of protrusions 53 that protrude in an arc shape at substantially equal intervals in the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface, and when the cap 50 is inserted into the counterbore 21, a tightening margin is formed. Function as.

  Further, the cap head 51 is recessed in a circular shape so as to form a cylindrical portion 54 on the outer peripheral side. For this reason, the protrusion 52 protrudes downward from one side surface 51 a of the cap head 51 formed at a position higher than the lower surface 54 a of the cylindrical portion 54. The cap head 51 may have a shape that does not include the cylindrical portion 54.

  The protrusion 52 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape at a position away from the center O of the cap head 51 by a predetermined distance. The length B from the upper surface (other side surface) 51b of the cap head 51 to the tip 52a of the protrusion 52 is set to be larger than the thickness A of the cap head 51, and the bending dimension at the tip 52a of the protrusion 52 is set. Is secured.

  In the present embodiment, the bending dimension is set to about 1 mm with respect to the outer diameter of the cap head 51 of about 20 mm. For example, even when the dimensional tolerance of the depth of the counterbore and the head height of the bolt 10 is about 0.5 mm, the folding dimension is about 1 mm so that stable support can be ensured by bending. did.

  The inner diameter of the protrusion 52 has a tapered shape that gradually increases toward the tip, and the outer diameter has a uniform dimension. Therefore, the protrusion 52 has a gradually tapered shape toward the distal end portion 52a, and the distal end portion 52a is thinner than the base portion 52b of the protrusion. Thereby, when the protrusion 52 contacts the head of the bolt 10 in which the cap is inserted into the mounting hole 20 (see FIG. 2), it is easy to open radially outward. Further, since the protrusion 52 is formed in a tapered shape, when the cap 50 is injection-molded, the mold only needs to be divided into two in the axial direction of the cap 50, and the structure becomes relatively easy and low. Suitable for mass production at low cost.

  The cap 50 configured as described above is inserted into the counterbore 21 after the bolt is inserted into the mounting hole 20 of the guide rail 1 and closes the mounting hole 20. At this time, by applying a not-shown abutting material to the upper surface of the cap 50 and hitting the upper surface of the abutting material with a metal hammer or the like, the cap 50 is countersunk while the upper surface of the cap 50 and the upper surface of the guide rail 1 are flush with each other. Fits into the hole 21. At this time, as shown in FIG. 2B, the cap 50 is horizontally placed on the head of the bolt 10 with the tip 52 a of the protrusion 52 contacting the head of the bolt 10 and bent in the radial direction. Stably supported. Thereby, even if the force which pushes in from the upper direction of a cap generate | occur | produces, the upper surface 51b of the cap head 51 does not sink, but the upper surface of the cap 50 and the upper surface of the guide rail 1 can be kept flush.

  Further, the tip 52a of the protrusion 52 is thinner than the base 52b, so that no complicated mold is required at the time of molding, and it can be easily produced by injection molding, and mass production and cost reduction are possible. It becomes.

  Furthermore, since the protrusion 52 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape at a predetermined distance from the center O of the cap head 51, it is supported uniformly and stably on the head of the bolt 10 and after fitting. Rigidity that does not sink even when the cap 50 is pushed from above is ensured.

  The shape of the projection 52 of the present invention is not limited to that of the above embodiment, and the tip 52a can be deformed in the radial direction by contacting the bolt 10 inserted into the mounting hole. In addition, it may be thinner than the base 52b of the protrusion 52, and various modifications as shown in FIGS.

  For example, the straight shape part 52c may be provided in the base side by making the base side of the protrusion 52 into a uniform internal diameter like the attachment hole cap 50a of the 1st modification shown in FIG.

  Further, as in the mounting hole cap 50b which is the second modification shown in FIG. 4, the protrusion 52 is provided with a straight-shaped portion 52c on the base side, and the outer diameter side and the inner diameter side on the tip side are tapered surfaces. It may be a tapered shape.

  Further, like the mounting hole cap 50c which is the third modified example shown in FIG. 5, the protrusion 52 has a tapered shape in which the inner diameter and the outer diameter gradually increase toward the distal end portion 52a, and is inclined overall. It may be a tapered shape. In this case, the protrusion 52 is inclined to such an extent that the protrusion 52 can be removed from the mold while the protrusion 52 is elastically deformed when the cap 50 is injection-molded.

  In addition, like the mounting hole cap 50d which is the fourth modified example shown in FIG. 6, the protrusion 52 has a tapered shape by providing a stepped portion 52d whose diameter is gradually increased from the base side to the tip side. It is good.

  Further, like the mounting hole cap 50e which is the fifth modified example shown in FIG. 7, the protrusion 52 has a tapered surface with a uniform inner diameter and a reduced outer diameter toward the distal end side. Thus, it may be formed in a tapered shape. In this case, the tip 52a contacts the head of the bolt 10 and is bent radially inward. However, in terms of stable support of the cap, the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 that is bent radially outward is more preferable.

  Further, like the mounting hole caps 50f and 50g according to the sixth modification shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the tip 52a of the protrusion 52 is expanded in diameter toward the tip, or By forming the annular groove 52e extending with a uniform width, it is branched into the inner diameter side tip portion 52a1 and the outer diameter side tip portion 52a2. Thereby, the thickness of the front-end | tip part 52a is made thinner than the base 52b. In this case, when the caps 50f and 50g are fitted into the counterbore holes 21, the inner diameter side tip 52a1 contacts the head of the bolt 10 and is bent radially inward, and the outer diameter side tip 52a2 The head is brought into contact with the head and bent sequentially outward from the tip.

  Further, the shape of the tip 52a of the protrusion 52 is a pointed or flat shape with the inner diameter side and the outer diameter side as straight surfaces as in the above-described embodiment shown in FIG. However, for example, in the case of the above-described embodiment shown in FIG. 1, as shown in FIG. 9A, the inner diameter side and the outer diameter side may be curved and continuously curved. As shown in b), it may have a curved shape in which only the inner diameter side is curved and is continuous with the outer diameter side straight surface. Thereby, the front-end | tip part 52a of the processus | protrusion 52 becomes a shape which becomes easy to slide on the head of the volt | bolt 10, and is easy to open more in a radial direction. As another example, in the case of a projection 52 bent radially inward, such as the mounting hole cap 50e shown in FIG. 7, the inner diameter side and the outer diameter side are set as in FIG. 9A. The same effect can be obtained by curving each of them, or as shown in FIG. 9C, by curving only the outer diameter side and forming a curved surface shape continuous with the straight surface on the inner diameter side. Further, in the case of each of the other modified examples, the same effect can be obtained by forming the tip portion according to FIGS. 9A to 9C into a curved surface shape. In a modified example in which the tip is flat, it is particularly effective to change to a curved shape.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a mounting hole cap according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Note that portions that are the same as or equivalent to those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted or simplified.

As shown in FIG. 10, in the cap 50h of this embodiment, a plurality of (four in this embodiment) slits 55 are formed at substantially equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the protrusion 52. As a result, the four protrusions 52 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. Thus, by providing the slit 55, each projection 52 is configured to be easily deformed in the radial direction. This is also effective in controlling the bending direction of the protrusion 52 as desired (for example, in the case shown in FIG. 1, it is ensured that the protrusion 52 bends outward over the entire circumference).
Other configurations and operations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

The slit 55 may be cut so that the adjacent protrusions 52 are close to each other, but a shape having a predetermined width as shown in FIG. Further, it is preferable that at least two or more slits 55 are formed symmetrically. Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the slit 55 may be formed so that the slit width widens toward the distal end side. .
The plurality of slits 55 may be formed at substantially equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the protrusion 52, and combinations with the above-described embodiment and the respective modifications thereof are possible. For example, in the case of the modification shown in FIG. 5, by providing a slit, not only helps the deformation of the protrusion 52 when the cap is pushed in, but also the process of removing the protrusion 52 from the mold during the manufacturing process. It becomes easy to elastically deform and can be performed smoothly.

In addition, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above, A deformation | transformation, improvement, etc. are possible suitably.
The form of the linear motion guide device is not limited to that of the above-described embodiment, and the present invention is applicable as long as the guide rail has a counterbore for mounting.

The cap for attachment holes which is 1st Embodiment of this invention is shown, (a) is the sectional drawing, (b) is the bottom view. FIG. 2 shows a state in which the mounting hole cap of FIG. 1 is fitted, (a) is a cross-sectional view thereof, and (b) is an enlarged view of a portion II of (a). It is sectional drawing of the cap for attachment holes which is the 1st modification of 1st Embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the cap for attachment holes which is the 2nd modification of 1st Embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the cap for attachment holes which is the 3rd modification of 1st Embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the cap for attachment holes which is the 4th modification of 1st Embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the cap for attachment holes which is the 5th modification of 1st Embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the cap for attachment holes which is the 6th modification of 1st Embodiment. It is principal part sectional drawing for demonstrating the modification which concerns on the front-end | tip shape of the processus | protrusion of 1st Embodiment. (A) is the bottom view of the cap for attachment holes which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention, (b) was formed between the protrusions cut | disconnected along the XX line of (a). It is a fragmentary sectional view for demonstrating a slit. It is a fragmentary sectional view for explaining a slit formed between projections concerning a modification of a 2nd embodiment. It is the whole perspective view which partly excised explaining a general linear motion guide device. It is a figure for demonstrating the conventional cap, (a) is the front view, (b) is the top view. It is sectional drawing for demonstrating the other conventional cap. It is sectional drawing for demonstrating the malfunction when the cap of FIG. 13 is attached to the attachment hole of a guide rail.

Explanation of symbols

1 guide rail 20 mounting hole 21 counterbore 50 cap (cap for mounting hole)
51 Cap Head 51a One Side 52 Protrusion 52a Tip 52b Base

Claims (5)

A mounting hole cap that is fitted in the upper part of the counterbore of the mounting hole of the guide rail that constitutes the linear motion guide device and closes the mounting hole after the bolt is inserted,
A substantially circular cap head having an outer diameter corresponding to the hole diameter of the counterbore,
A protrusion protruding from one side of the cap head and formed integrally with the cap head;
With
A cap for a mounting hole, wherein the tip of the projection is thinner than the base of the projection so as to be deformable in a radial direction by contacting the bolt inserted into the mounting hole. The protrusion is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape at a position away from the center of the cap head by a predetermined distance,
The cap for a mounting hole according to claim 1, wherein an inner diameter of the protrusion has a tapered shape that gradually increases in diameter toward a tip portion.   The protrusion is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape at a position away from a center of the cap head by a predetermined distance, and slits are formed at substantially equal intervals in the circumferential direction. Cap for mounting holes.   The cap for a mounting hole according to claim 1, wherein a tip portion of the protrusion has a curved surface shape. A guide rail having a linear rolling element rolling groove extending in the axial direction on both sides and extending in the axial direction and having a plurality of mounting holes penetrating from the upper surface to the lower surface at predetermined intervals in the axial direction; A mounting hole cap which is fitted in the upper part of the counterbore of the mounting hole and closes the mounting hole, and a linear rolling element rolling groove facing the rolling element rolling groove of the guide rail, and these A linear motion guide device comprising a slider supported by the guide rail so as to be movable along the axial direction via rolling of a large number of rolling elements inserted between the rolling grooves of the rolling element,
The mounting hole cap includes a substantially circular cap head having an outer diameter corresponding to the hole diameter of the counterbore hole, and a protrusion formed integrally with the cap head that protrudes from the cap head. With
The linear motion guide device according to claim 1, wherein a tip portion of the projection is thinner than a base portion of the projection so as to be deformable in a radial direction by contacting the bolt inserted into the mounting hole.

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