JP2009156376A - Linear guide device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a linear guide device in which the amounts of a lubricant supplied to rolling body rolling passages are automatically controlled and the difference between the amounts of the supplied lubricant to the right and left rolling body rolling passages is reduced even when the liner guide device is at an attitude to generate a difference in height between the both right and left rolling body rolling passages. <P>SOLUTION: An oil supply passage 21 for supplying the lubricant to right and left curved passages 30 is formed on the back face of an end cap 2B which is a component of the linear guide device, and this oil supply passage 21 is equipped with a lubricant supply amount control part 20. In the lubricatnt supply amount control part 20, the cross sectional area of the oil supply passage 21 is changed by a weight 42 receiving gravity and moving, so that the easiness of supply of the lubricant is controlled. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a linear guide device.

  The linear guide device has a guide rail having a rolling element rolling groove extending in the axial direction on the outer surface, a rolling element rolling groove facing the rolling element rolling groove of the guide rail, and is guided so as to be relatively movable in the axial direction. A slider attached to the rail, and a plurality of rolling elements arranged to roll in a rolling element rolling path formed between the rolling element rolling groove of the guide rail and the rolling element rolling groove of the slider; The slider is moved in the axial direction along the guide rail through the rolling of the rolling element. In general, the rolling element rolling paths are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the guide rail. In the present invention, when the linear guide device is viewed from the end in the axial direction, both sides with the center axis of the guide rail as the center of symmetry are set to the left and right.

  Lubricants such as lubricating oil and grease are supplied to the rolling elements in the rolling element rolling path for lubrication. In other words, the oil supply passage that branches right and left from the oil supply port provided at a substantially central position in the left-right direction of the slider leads to the left and right rolling element rolling passages, and the lubricant injected into the oil supply port passes through both oil supply passages. It is supplied to the rolling element rolling path. When the linear guide device having such an oil supply path is installed horizontally, the lubricant is supplied substantially evenly to the left and right rolling element rolling paths.

  However, when it is installed in an inclined posture that causes a height difference between the rolling elements of the left and right rolling elements, the lubricant flows downward due to its own weight. A larger amount of lubricant than usual is supplied to the moving path, and a smaller amount of lubricant is supplied to the higher rolling element rolling path, and there is a possibility that almost no lubricant is supplied depending on the inclination angle. . As a result, there is a risk that the lubricant will be insufficient in the rolling element rolling path on the higher side, causing problems such as seizure.

Therefore, a linear guide device in which the lubricant is supplied almost evenly to the left and right rolling element rolling paths even when it is installed in an inclined posture such that a difference in height occurs between the left and right rolling element rolling paths. Has been proposed. For example, in the linear guide devices described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, a valve for controlling the amount of lubricant supplied to the left and right rolling element rolling paths is provided in the oil feeding path, and the valve is adjusted according to the inclination angle. Then, the lubricant is evenly supplied to the left and right rolling element rolling paths.
JP-A-8-114224 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-321933 JP 2005-221008 A

However, since the valves provided in the linear guide devices described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are manually adjusted according to the inclination angle, adjustment is time-consuming and there is a possibility that the adjustment may be wrong. There was a serious problem.
Therefore, the present invention solves the problems of the prior art as described above, and the rolling element rolling is performed even in the case of taking an inclined posture in which a height difference is generated between the rolling element rolling paths on the left and right sides. It is an object of the present invention to provide a linear guide device in which the amount of lubricant supplied to the road is automatically adjusted, and the difference in the amount of lubricant supplied to the left and right rolling element rolling paths is reduced.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention has the following configuration. That is, the linear guide device according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a guide rail having a rolling element rolling groove extending in the axial direction on the outer surface, and a rolling element rolling groove facing the rolling element rolling groove of the guide rail. And a slider mounted on the guide rail so as to be relatively movable in the axial direction, and in a rolling element rolling path formed between the rolling element rolling groove of the guide rail and the rolling element rolling groove of the slider. In the linear guide device comprising a plurality of rolling elements that are arranged to be freely rollable and an oil supply passage that supplies a lubricant to the rolling element rolling passage, the lubricant operates by gravity in the oil supply passage. A lubricant supply amount adjusting unit for adjusting the supply amount of the lubricant is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a linear guide device comprising: a guide rail having rolling element rolling grooves extending in the axial direction on both left and right sides; and rolling element rolling facing the rolling element rolling grooves of the guide rail. A slider having a groove and attached to the guide rail so as to be relatively movable in the axial direction, and a rolling element rolling formed between the rolling element rolling groove of the guide rail and the rolling element rolling groove of the slider A plurality of rolling elements arranged in a path so as to be freely rollable, and the slider has a slider body in which the rolling element rolling grooves and rolling element return paths parallel to the rolling body are formed on the left and right sides, respectively. In the linear guide device comprising: end caps that are attached to both ends of the slider body in the axial direction and have curved paths that connect the rolling element rolling path and the rolling element return path on both left and right sides, Slider body or the above A lubricant supply amount adjustment for adjusting the supply amount of the lubricant by operating by gravity in the oil supply passage and forming an oil supply passage for supplying the lubricant to the rolling element rolling passages on both right and left sides in the end cap And the lubricant supply amount adjusting unit is lower than the rolling element rolling path on the lower side in the case of taking an inclined posture in which a height difference is generated between the rolling element rolling paths on the left and right sides. Further, the lubricant is easily supplied to the higher rolling element rolling path, and the difference in the ease of supply of the lubricant increases as the height difference increases. .
Furthermore, the linear guide device according to a third aspect of the present invention is the linear guide device according to the first or second aspect, wherein the lubricant supply amount adjusting portion receives gravity and causes the weight to move or rotate. Thus, the cross-sectional area of the oil supply passage is changed to adjust the ease with which the lubricant is supplied.

  In the linear guide device of the present invention, the amount of lubricant supplied to the rolling element rolling path is automatically adjusted even when the inclined posture is such that a difference in height occurs between the rolling element rolling paths on the left and right sides. And the difference in the amount of lubricant supplied to the left and right rolling element rolling paths is alleviated.

  An embodiment of a linear guide device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a linear guide device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a front view of the linear guide device of FIG. 1 viewed from the axial direction (however, the end cap is omitted). Is shown). In the following drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  On a guide rail 1 having a substantially square cross section extending in the axial direction, a slider 2 having a substantially U-shaped cross section is assembled so as to be relatively movable in the axial direction. Rolling element rolling grooves 10 and 10 formed of concave grooves having a substantially arc-shaped cross section extending in the axial direction are formed at the ridgeline where the upper surface 1b of the guide rail 1 intersects the left and right side surfaces 1a and 1a. In addition, rolling element rolling grooves 10, 10 each having a substantially semicircular cross section extending in the axial direction are formed at intermediate positions between the left and right side surfaces 1a, 1a of the guide rail 1.

The slider 2 includes a slider body 2A and end caps 2B and 2B that are detachably attached to both end portions in the axial direction. Further, both end portions of the slider 2 (end surfaces of the end caps 2B). ) Are provided with side seals 5 and 5 for sealing the opening of the gap between the guide rail 1 and the slider 2.
Rollers with a substantially semicircular cross section facing the rolling element rolling grooves 10, 10, 10, 10 of the guide rail 1 are formed at the corners of the inner side surfaces of the left and right sleeve portions 6, 6 of the slider body 2 </ b> A and the central portion in the vertical direction. The moving body rolling grooves 11, 11, 11, 11 are formed.

  The rolling element rolling grooves 10, 10, 10, 10 of the guide rail 1 and the rolling element rolling grooves 11, 11, 11, 11 of both sleeve portions 6, 6 have a substantially circular cross section. 14, 14, 14, 14 are formed, and these symmetrical rolling element rolling paths 14 extend in the axial direction. The number of rolling element rolling grooves 10 and 11 provided in the guide rail 1 and the slider 2 is not limited to two rows on one side, and may be one row on one side or three rows or more, for example. Moreover, the cross-sectional shape of the rolling element rolling grooves 10 and 11 may be an arc shape formed of a single arc as described above, but is substantially V-shaped (Gothic arc shape) formed by combining two arcs having different centers of curvature. Groove).

Furthermore, the slider 2 has a circular cross-sectional through hole that penetrates in the axial direction in parallel with the rolling element rolling path 14 at the upper and lower portions of the thick portions of the left and right sleeve portions 6 and 6 of the slider body 2A. Rolling element return paths 13, 13, 13, 13 are provided.
On the other hand, the end cap 2B is made of, for example, an injection molded product of a resin material, and has a substantially U-shaped cross section. As shown in FIG. 3, the semicircular upper concave portion 31 and the lower concave portion 32 that are inclined obliquely are formed on the contact surface (back surface) with the slider main body 2 </ b> A. In addition to being formed corresponding to the upper and lower sides, a semi-cylindrical concave groove 33 is provided across the center of both semicircular concave portions 31 and 32.

  The semi-cylindrical concave groove 33 is fitted with a semi-cylindrical return guide 35 (see FIG. 4) obtained by injection molding of a resin material, for example. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the end cap 2B to which the return guide 35 is attached. In the center of the outer diameter surface of the return guide 35, a concave groove 36 having a circular arc cross section serving as a guide surface of the rolling element 3 is formed in a semicircular shape, and the concave portion 37 on the inner diameter side of the return guide 35 is lubricated. A through hole 37a which is an agent passage and extends from the concave portion 37 to the concave groove 36 on the outer diameter side is formed as an oil supply hole.

  By incorporating such a return guide 35 into the semi-cylindrical recessed groove 33, a semi-doughnut-shaped curved path 30 having a circular cross section is formed in two steps on the left and right sides of the back surface of the end cap 2B (FIG. 6). See). When the end cap 2B is attached to the slider body 2A, the rolling element rolling paths 14 and 14 and the rolling element return paths 13 and 13 are communicated with each other through the curved paths 30 and 30.

The rolling element rolling paths 14 and 14, the rolling element return paths 13 and 13 and the curved paths 30 at both ends form a substantially annular rolling element circulation path on both the left and right sides of the guide rail 1, and this rolling element circulation. In the road, a large number of rolling elements (balls) 3 made of, for example, steel balls are loaded so as to freely roll. A spacer may be interposed between the rolling elements 3.
When the slider 2 assembled to the guide rail 1 moves in the axial direction along the guide rail 1, the rolling element 3 loaded in the rolling element rolling path 14 rolls in the rolling element rolling path 14. However, it moves in the same direction as the slider 2 with respect to the guide rail 1. When the rolling element 3 reaches one end of the rolling element rolling path 14, the rolling element scooping protrusion 39 provided in the end cap 2 B scoops up the rolling element rolling path 14 and sends it to the curved path 30. .

The rolling element 3 that has entered the curved path 30 makes a U-turn and is introduced into the rolling element return path 13, and reaches the opposite curved path 30 through the rolling element return path 13. Here, the U-turn is performed again to return to the rolling element rolling path 14, and the circulation in the rolling element circulation path is repeated infinitely.
In the end cap 2B, a rolling body scooping protrusion 39 that is projected in a semicircular shape is formed at the inner end of the curved path 30 that guides the rolling element 3, and an acute-angle tip of the rolling end of the guide rail 1. It arrange | positions so that the groove bottom of the moving body rolling groove | channel 10 may be adjoined.

Further, a lubricant such as grease or lubricating oil injected from the oil supply nipple 22 on the front side of the end cap 2B passes through the oil supply passage 21 formed by a groove formed on the back surface of the end cap 2B, and is a recess on the inner diameter side of the return guide 35. 37 is fed into the curved paths 30 on the left and right sides through the through hole 37a. Then, the lubricant is conveyed by the rolling element 3 to reach the rolling element rolling path 14 from the curved path 30, so that the rolling element 3 is lubricated.
Even when such a linear guide device is installed in an inclined posture in which a height difference is generated between the rolling elements rolling paths 14 and 14 on both the left and right sides, the rolling element rolling paths 14 on both the left and right sides are installed. , 14 is provided with a lubricant supply amount adjusting unit 20 so as to reduce the difference in the amount of lubricant supplied to.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 7, an oil supply port 23 extending from the front-side oil supply nipple 22 is opened at a substantially central position in the left-right direction on the back surface of the end cap 2 </ b> B. The path 21 leads to the left and right curved paths 30. A lubricant supply amount adjusting unit 20 is provided in the middle of the oil supply passage 21 (position between the oil supply port 23 and the curved passage 30), and the amount of lubricant flowing through the oil supply passage 21 is adjusted. It has become so. The structure and operation of the lubricant supply amount adjusting unit 20 will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS.

  A rectangular groove 41 extending in the left-right direction is provided above the oil supply passage 21, and a rectangular weight 42 is loaded in the rectangular groove 41. Springs 43, 43 are interposed between both ends of the weight 42 and the end of the rectangular groove 41, and the position of the weight 42 is centered in the horizontal direction in the rectangular groove 41 by these springs 43, 43. Is retained. In addition, both springs 43 and 43 are arranged in a state slightly contracted from the natural length, and are in a state in which preload is applied.

  Further, the rectangular groove 41 and the oil supply passage 21 communicate with each other at two places (four places in total on the left and right), and the communicating portion and the concave portion 42a formed on the weight 42 are disposed at the same position. The lubricant once enters the recess 42 a of the weight 42 from the oil supply passage 21, returns to the oil supply passage 21 again, and reaches the curved passage 30. When the weight 42 moves in the left-right direction along the rectangular groove 41, a portion of the weight 42 where the recess 42a is not formed overlaps with a part of the communication portion as shown in FIG. 8B. The communication portion is designed to be small (that is, the cross-sectional area of the oil supply passage 21 is small).

  When the linear guide device is installed horizontally, as shown in FIG. 8 (a), the size of the communicating portion (the cross-sectional area of the oil supply passage 21) is the largest. The lubricant easily passes through the communicating portion, and the lubricant is supplied to the left and right curved paths 30 almost evenly. On the other hand, when the linear guide device is installed with an inclined posture left and right, that is, with an inclined posture in which a height difference is generated between the left and right rolling element rolling paths 14 and 14. In this case, as shown in FIG. 8 (b), the weight 42 receives gravity and moves (moves to the right in FIG. 8 (b)), so that the communication portion on the right side is narrowed (oil supply path). The cross-sectional area of 21 becomes small) and it becomes difficult for the lubricant to pass through. And since the movement distance of the weight 42 is so large that an inclination angle is large, the said communicating part of the right side is narrowed more, and it becomes difficult to pass a lubricant.

  Even if the weight 42 moves, the size of the left communication portion does not change, so that the lubricant is on the higher side (left side in FIG. 8B) than on the lower side (right side in FIG. 8B). Is in a state where it is easy to be supplied. Without the lubricant supply amount adjusting unit 20, the lubricant easily flows to the lower side due to gravity, and a difference occurs between the left and right lubricant supply amounts. However, the lubricant supply amount adjusting unit 20 causes a difference in the lubricant supply amount. Alleviated. According to the lubricant supply amount adjusting unit 20, the difference in the ease with which the lubricant is supplied increases as the tilt angle increases (the difference in height between the left and right sides) increases. Even if installed, the difference in the amount of lubricant supplied is moderated appropriately. Therefore, there is no shortage of lubricant in the rolling element rolling path 14 on the higher side, and there is almost no risk of seizure or the like, so the linear guide device has a long life.

  FIG. 9 shows a case where the inclination angle is 45 °, and FIG. 10 shows a case where the inclination angle is 90 °. In both cases, the left side is lower. In the case of FIG. 9, the left communicating portion is slightly narrowed by the movement of the weight 42, and the cross-sectional area of the oil supply passage 21 is slightly reduced, so that the difference in the amount of lubricant supplied between the left and right is alleviated. In the case of FIG. 10, the movement amount of the weight 42 is the maximum, the communication portion on the left side is the narrowest, and the cross-sectional area of the oil supply passage 21 is the minimum. Without the lubricant supply amount adjustment unit 20, most of the lubricant flows to the left side and hardly flows to the right side, but the lubricant supply amount adjustment unit 20 makes it difficult to flow to the left side. The difference in supply amount of lubricant is alleviated.

Thus, no matter what inclination angle the linear guide device is installed, the amount of lubricant to be supplied is automatically adjusted by the lubricant supply amount adjusting unit 20 according to the inclination angle. There is no need to adjust the amount of lubricant, and there is no risk of incorrect adjustment.
In order to surely move the weight 42, the weight 42 is preferably made of a material having a large specific gravity. Examples thereof include metals such as steel and brass. Further, although the weight 42 is moved without using the spring 43, in order to move the weight 42 to an appropriate position when the tilt angle is changed, for example, when the tilt is returned from the tilted state to the horizontal position. It is preferable to use a spring 43.

  Next, the lubricant supply amount adjusting unit 50 having another structure will be described. In addition, description of the same part as said lubricant supply amount adjustment part 20 or a corresponding part is abbreviate | omitted. As shown in FIG. 11, rotary valves 51, 51 are provided at intermediate positions in the oil supply passage 21 (positions between the oil supply port 23 and the curved passage 30). And as shown in FIG. 12, the magnitude | size of the oil supply path 21 is expanded or narrowed by rotation of the rotary valve 51 (the cross-sectional area of the oil supply path 21 changes). Thus, the amount of lubricant flowing through the oil supply passage 21 is adjusted.

  That is, the rotary valve 51 is semicircular, and when the entire rotary valve 51 is disposed in the oil supply passage 21 as shown in FIG. 12B, the oil supply passage 21 is most narrowed. When the lubricant is most difficult to pass through and the entire rotary valve 51 is arranged outside the oil supply passage 21 as shown in FIG. 12C, the oil supply passage 21 is expanded most and the lubricant passes most. When the half of the rotary valve 51 is arranged in the oil supply passage 21 as shown in FIG. 12 (a), the oil supply passage 21 is slightly narrowed and the lubricant hardly passes. In this way, by rotating the rotary valve 51 and changing the size of the portion of the rotary valve 51 disposed in the oil supply passage 21, the amount of lubricant flowing through the oil supply passage 21 is adjusted. The

  When the linear guide device is installed horizontally, the left and right rotary valves 51 are in a state as shown in FIG. Supplied. On the other hand, when the linear guide device is installed with an inclined posture left and right, that is, with an inclined posture in which a height difference is generated between the left and right rolling element rolling paths 14 and 14. In this case, the rotary valve 51 rotates, the lower rotary valve 51 is less likely to pass the lubricant, and the higher rotary valve 51 is more likely to pass the lubricant. As the tilt angle increases, the rotation angle of the rotary valve 51 increases. The lower rotary valve 51 is less likely to pass the lubricant, and the higher rotary valve 51 passes more lubricant. Easy state.

  Without the lubricant supply amount adjusting unit 50, the lubricant tends to flow to the lower side due to gravity, and a difference occurs between the left and right lubricant supply amounts. However, the lubricant supply amount adjusting unit 50 causes a difference in the lubricant supply amount. Alleviated. According to the lubricant supply amount adjusting unit 50, the difference in the ease with which the lubricant is supplied increases as the tilt angle increases (the difference in height between the left and right) increases. Even if installed, the difference in the amount of lubricant supplied is moderated appropriately.

  FIG. 13 shows a case where the inclination angle is 45 °, and FIG. 14 shows a case where the inclination angle is 90 °. In both cases, the left side is lower. In the case of FIG. 13, the left oil supply passage 21 is slightly narrowed by the rotation of the left rotary valve 51, and the right oil supply passage 21 is slightly widened by the rotation of the right rotary valve 51. The difference in supply amount is moderated. In the case of FIG. 14, the rotation angle of the rotary valve 51 is the maximum, the left oil supply passage 21 is most narrowed, and the right oil supply passage 21 is most expanded. Without the lubricant supply amount adjusting unit 50, most of the lubricant flows to the left side and hardly flows to the right side, but the lubricant supply amount adjusting unit 50 makes it difficult to flow to the left side. The difference in supply amount of lubricant is alleviated.

  Here, the rotation mechanism of the rotary valve 51 will be described. The rotary valve 51 is rotatably attached to the end cap 2B via a rotary shaft 52. The rotating shaft 52 protrudes to the front side of the end cap 2B, and a weight 53 is fixed to the end of the rotating shaft 52 protruding to the front side (see FIG. 15). The weight 53 receives gravity and the rotation shaft 52 rotates (the rotation shaft 52 rotates so that the weight 53 always faces downward), and the rotary valve 51 rotates in conjunction with the rotation. The shape of the weight 53 is not particularly limited, but a fan shape as shown in FIG. 16 is preferable. In order to reliably rotate the rotary valve 51, it is preferable to configure the weight 53 with a material having a large specific gravity. Examples thereof include metals such as steel and brass.

  Next, the lubricant supply amount adjusting unit 60 having another structure will be described. In addition, description of the same part as said lubricant supply amount adjustment part 20 or a corresponding part is abbreviate | omitted. As shown in FIGS. 17 to 19, a rotary valve 61 is provided in the oil supply port 23, and the size of the connecting portion between the oil supply port 23 and the oil supply passage 21 becomes wider or narrower by the rotation of the rotary valve 61. (The cross-sectional area of the oil supply passage 21 changes). As a result, the amount of lubricant flowing through the oil supply passage 21 is adjusted.

  That is, the rotary valve 61 has fan-shaped openings 61a and 61a communicating with the oil supply port 23 and the oil supply passage 21 on the left and right, and when the rotary valve 61 rotates, The end of the oil supply passage 21 is displaced, and one of the left and right connecting portions is narrowed and the other is widened. As a result, the lubricant becomes difficult to pass through the narrowed connecting portion, and the lubricant easily passes through the widened connecting portion. And the change of the magnitude | size of the said connection part becomes large, so that the rotation angle of the rotary valve 61 is large.

  When the linear guide device is installed horizontally, as shown in FIG. 17, the size of the connecting portion is the maximum on both the left and right sides, so that the lubricant is evenly distributed on the left and right curved paths 30. Supplied. On the other hand, when the linear guide device is installed with an inclined posture left and right, that is, with an inclined posture in which a height difference is generated between the left and right rolling element rolling paths 14 and 14. In this case, the rotary valve 61 rotates, the lower side is in a state where the connecting portion is narrowed and the lubricant is difficult to pass, and the higher side is in a state where the connecting portion is widened and the lubricant is easily passed. . The rotation angle of the rotary valve 61 increases as the tilt angle increases, and the lower side is more difficult for the lubricant to pass through, and the higher side is the state where the lubricant is more likely to pass through.

  Without the lubricant supply amount adjusting unit 60, the lubricant easily flows to the lower side due to gravity, and a difference occurs between the left and right lubricant supply amounts. However, the lubricant supply amount adjusting unit 60 causes a difference in the lubricant supply amount. Alleviated. According to the lubricant supply amount adjusting unit 60, the difference in the ease with which the lubricant is supplied increases as the inclination angle increases (the difference in height between the left and right sides) increases. Even if installed, the difference in the amount of lubricant supplied is moderated appropriately.

  FIG. 20 shows a case where the tilt angle is 90 °. In the case of FIG. 20, due to the rotation of the rotary valve 61, the connecting portion is narrowest on the left side, and the connecting portion is widest on the right side. Without the lubricant supply amount adjusting unit 60, most of the lubricant flows to the left side and hardly flows to the right side, but the lubricant supply amount adjusting unit 60 makes it difficult to flow to the left side. The difference in supply amount of lubricant is alleviated.

  Here, the rotation mechanism of the rotary valve 61 will be described. A rectangular groove 62 extending in the left-right direction is provided above the oil supply passage 21, and a rectangular rack 63 is loaded in the rectangular groove 62. Springs 64 and 64 are interposed between both ends of the rack 63 and the end of the rectangular groove 62, and the position of the rack 63 is centered in the left and right direction in the rectangular groove 62 by these springs 64 and 64. Is retained. In addition, both springs 64 and 64 are arranged in a state slightly contracted from the natural length, and are in a state in which preload is applied.

  A weight 65 is attached to the rack 63, and when the linear guide device is installed in an inclined posture on the left and right, that is, there is a difference in height between the left and right rolling element rolling paths 14,. If the weight 65 is installed in a tilted posture, the weight 65 receives gravity and moves to the right or left, and accordingly, the rack 63 also moves in the same direction along the rectangular groove 62. A plurality of teeth 61 b are formed on the outer surface of the rotary valve 61 and mesh with the plurality of teeth 63 a formed on the rack 63, so that the rotary valve 61 rotates as the rack 63 moves.

Even if the weight 65 is not provided, the rack 63 can be moved only by its own weight, but the rack 63 is more reliably moved when the weight 65 is provided. Further, if the weight 65 is disposed outside the end cap 2B, it is possible to confirm that the adjustment of the lubricant supply amount is correctly performed by the position of the weight 65 in the left-right direction. Further, in order to ensure the movement of the rack 63, it is preferable to configure the weight 65 with a material having a large specific gravity. Examples thereof include metals such as steel and brass.
In the present embodiment, the lubricant supply amount adjusting units 20, 50, 60 are provided on the end cap 2B, but may be provided on the slider body 2A.

  The linear guide device of the present invention can be suitably used for various machines such as a manufacturing apparatus, a processing machine, and a measuring instrument.

It is a perspective view showing one embodiment of a linear guide device concerning the present invention. It is the front view which looked at the linear guide apparatus of FIG. 1 from the axial direction. It is the figure which abbreviate | omitted the return guide and showed the back surface of the end cap. It is a front view of a return guide. It is a perspective view of an end cap in the state where a return guide is attached. It is AA sectional drawing of the linear guide apparatus of FIG. It is the figure which showed the back surface of the end cap provided with the lubricant supply amount adjustment part. It is a figure explaining the structure and operation | movement of a lubricant supply amount adjustment part. It is the figure which showed the back surface of the end cap in case an inclination angle is 45 degrees. It is the figure which showed the back surface of the end cap in case an inclination angle is 90 degrees. It is the figure which showed the back surface of the end cap provided with the lubricant supply amount adjustment part of another structure. It is a figure explaining the structure and operation | movement of a lubricant supply amount adjustment part. It is the figure which showed the back surface of the end cap in case an inclination angle is 45 degrees. It is the figure which showed the back surface of the end cap in case an inclination angle is 90 degrees. It is a figure explaining the rotation mechanism of a rotary valve. It is the figure which showed the front side of the end cap explaining the shape of a weight. It is the figure which showed the back surface of the end cap provided with the lubricant supply amount adjustment part of another structure. It is sectional drawing of the end cap explaining the structure of the lubricant supply amount adjustment part of FIG. It is a perspective view of a rotary valve. It is the figure which showed the back surface of the end cap in case an inclination angle is 90 degrees.

Explanation of symbols

1 Guide rail 1a Side surface 2 Slider 2A Slider body 2B End cap
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 Rolling body 10 Rolling body rolling groove 11 Rolling body rolling groove 13 Rolling body return path 14 Rolling body rolling path 21 Oil supply path 23 Oil supply port 30 Curved path 20, 50, 60 Lubricant supply amount adjustment part 42,53, 65 Weight 51 Rotary valve 61 Rotary valve 63 Rack

Claims (3)

A guide rail having a rolling element rolling groove extending in the axial direction on the outer surface, a rolling element rolling groove facing the rolling element rolling groove of the guide rail, and attached to the guide rail so as to be relatively movable in the axial direction. A plurality of rolling elements arranged to roll in a rolling element rolling path formed between the rolling element rolling grooves of the guide rail and the rolling element rolling grooves of the slider; In a linear guide device comprising an oil supply passage for supplying a lubricant to a rolling element rolling passage,
A linear guide device characterized in that a lubricant supply amount adjusting section that operates by gravity and adjusts the supply amount of the lubricant is provided in the oil supply passage. A guide rail having rolling element rolling grooves extending in the axial direction on both right and left side surfaces, a rolling element rolling groove facing the rolling element rolling grooves of the guide rail, and being relatively movable in the axial direction on the guide rail. An attached slider, and a plurality of rolling elements arranged in a freely rolling manner in a rolling element rolling path formed between the rolling element rolling groove of the guide rail and the rolling element rolling groove of the slider; With
The slider includes a slider body in which the rolling element rolling groove and a rolling element return path parallel to the rolling body are formed on both left and right sides, and a curved path that communicates the rolling element rolling path and the rolling element return path. End guides attached to both ends in the axial direction of the slider body, and a linear guide device comprising:
The slider body or the end cap is formed with an oil supply passage for supplying a lubricant to the rolling element rolling passages on both the left and right sides, and the supply amount of the lubricant is adjusted by operating in the oil supply passage by gravity. A lubricant supply amount adjustment unit is provided.
When the inclined posture is such that a difference in height is generated between the rolling element rolling paths on the left and right sides, the lubricant supply amount adjusting unit is higher on the higher side than the lower rolling element rolling path. The linear guide device is characterized in that the lubricant is easily supplied toward the rolling element rolling path, and the difference in ease of supply of the lubricant increases as the height difference increases.   The lubricant supply amount adjusting unit is adapted to change the cross-sectional area of the oil supply passage by the movement or rotation of a weight due to gravity to adjust the ease of supply of the lubricant. The linear guide device according to claim 1, wherein the linear guide device is characterized.

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