JP2011021712A - Linear guide device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inexpensive linear guide device which hardly causes an overturn and can reduce the number of part items. <P>SOLUTION: The linear guide device includes a guide rail 1, a slider 2 attached to the guide rail 2 so as to be movable axially and directionally, a plurality of cylindrical rollers 3 put rollingly in a rolling element rolling passage 13, and a rolling element returning passage for sending the cylindrical rollers 3 from an end point of the rolling element rolling passage 13 to a start point thereof. The rolling element returning passage is constituted of a linear passage 14 and a curved passage, and the slider 2 is constituted of a slider body 2A and end caps 2B. A fulcrum 15 having guide faces 15a, 15b for guiding one end face of each cylindrical roller 3 along an axial direction is attached to the slider 2 by direct fixation to the both end caps 2B, and a flange 19 for guiding the other end face of each cylindrical roller 3 along the axial direction is formed integrally to be projected from the slider body 2A. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a linear motion guide device.

  An example of a conventional linear guide device will be described with reference to FIG. On a substantially square guide rail 101 extending in the axial direction, a slider 102 having a substantially U-shaped cross section is assembled so as to be movable in the axial direction. On the left and right side surfaces 101a, 101a of the guide rail 101, two upper and lower inclined surfaces extending in the axial direction are formed in a substantially C shape, and a total of four inclined surfaces form the rolling element raceway surface 110, respectively. .

  The slider 102 is composed of a slider main body 102A and end caps (not shown) that are detachably attached to both end portions in the axial direction of the slider main body 102A. On the inner surface, inclined rolling element raceway surfaces 111, 111, 111, 111 facing the rolling element raceway surfaces 110, 110, 110, 110 of the guide rail 101 are formed.

  Then, between the rolling element raceway surfaces 110, 110, 110, 110 of the guide rail 101 and the rolling element raceway surfaces 111, 111, 111, 111 of the slider 102, the rolling element rolling paths 113, 113 having a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape. , 113, 113 are formed, and these rolling element rolling paths 113 extend in the axial direction. In this rolling element rolling path 113, a large number of cylindrical rollers 103, which are rolling elements, are slidably loaded, and the slider 102 is moved along the guide rail 101 through the rolling of these cylindrical rollers 103. It moves in the axial direction.

  Further, the slider 102 has a substantially rectangular cross-sectional through hole that penetrates in the axial direction in parallel to the rolling element rolling path 113 at the upper and lower portions of the thick portions of the left and right sleeve portions 106, 106 of the slider body 102A. The linear path 114,114,114,114 which becomes.

  On the other hand, the end cap is made of, for example, an injection molded product of a resin material and has a substantially U-shaped cross section. In addition, on the left and right sides of the back surface of the end cap, a semi-doughnut-shaped curved path (not shown) having a substantially rectangular cross section is formed in two upper and lower stages. When this end cap is attached to the slider body 102A, the rolling element rolling path 113 and the linear path 114 are communicated with each other through a curved path. The linear path 114 and the curved paths at both ends constitute a rolling element return path for sending the cylindrical roller 103 from the end point of the rolling element rolling path 113 to the starting point. The rolling element rolling path 113 and the rolling element return path Thus, substantially annular rolling element circulation paths are formed on both the left and right sides with the guide rail 101 interposed therebetween.

  When the slider 102 assembled to the guide rail 101 moves in the axial direction along the guide rail 101, the cylindrical roller 103 loaded in the rolling element rolling path 113 rolls in the rolling element rolling path 113. However, it moves in the same direction as the slider 102 with respect to the guide rail 101. When the cylindrical roller 103 reaches the end point of the rolling element rolling path 113, the cylindrical roller 103 is scooped up from the rolling element rolling path 113 and sent to the curved path. The cylindrical roller 103 that has entered the curved path makes a U-turn and is introduced into the straight path 114, and reaches the opposite curved path through the straight path 114. Here, the U-turn is made again to return to the starting point of the rolling element rolling path 113, and such circulation in the rolling element circulation path is repeated infinitely.

  Such a linear motion guide device includes a support column 115 that is a substantially plate-like member extending in the axial direction. The support column 115 is fixed to the slider 102 by being sandwiched between a fixing band 117 having a locking claw that engages with a locking hole formed in the end cap and the slider body 102A. The fixing band 117 is made of an elastic metal plate such as steel.

  In the support column 115, guide surfaces 115a and 115a for guiding one end surface of the cylindrical roller 103 are formed along the axial direction. On the other hand, a flange 119 extending along the axial direction is formed on the slider main body 102A so as to protrude from the rolling element raceway surface 111, and the other end surface of the cylindrical roller 103 is guided along the axial direction by the guide surface 119a of the collar 119. It has come to be. Therefore, the cylindrical roller 103 is interposed between the guide surface 119a of the collar 119 and the guide surface 115a of the support column 115, and is guided along the axial direction by the both guide surfaces 115a and 119a.

Japanese Patent No. 2918429

  However, in the case of a small linear guide device, or when the size of the roller is increased in order to increase the load capacity while maintaining the assembly dimensions, the column 115 has to be thinned due to space limitations. As in Document 1, it may be difficult to attach the support column 115 to the slider 102 with the fixing band 117.

  Further, in order to attach the fixing band 117, the width and thickness of the fixing band 117 must be reduced. Therefore, even if the fixing band 117 can be attached, the rigidity of the fixing band 117 is reduced. Then, when the cylindrical roller 103 is displaced in the central axis direction of the cylindrical roller 103 due to the skew, there is a possibility that the cylindrical roller 103 falls down without exhibiting a sufficient reaction force.

Further, such a fixing band 117 needs to have a high accuracy in the dimension in the longitudinal direction (axial direction). If the dimensions are not correct, the pillar 115 cannot be firmly fixed in both the long and short cases, and the cylindrical roller 103 may fall over.
Further, since the metal fixing band 117 is used to attach the support column 115, there is a problem that the number of parts increases and the cost increases.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and to provide an inexpensive linear motion guide device that has a small number of parts and that is less likely to cause rolling of rollers.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following configuration. That is, the linear motion guide device of the present invention has a guide rail having a rolling element raceway surface extending in the axial direction, a rolling element raceway surface facing the rolling element raceway surface of the guide rail, and is relatively movable in the axial direction. A slider attached to the guide rail, a plurality of rollers that are rolling elements loaded in a rolling element rolling path formed between the rolling element raceway surfaces, and the rollers. A rolling element return path that sends from the end point of the moving body rolling path to the starting point, the rolling element return path extending in the axial direction, the first return path and the rolling element rolling path A curved second return path that communicates with the slider body, the slider body having the rolling element raceway surface and the first return path, and the second return path attached to both axial ends of the slider body. And an end cap having a path, In the linear motion guide device, a column having a guide surface for guiding one end surface of the roller along the axial direction is attached to the slider by being directly fixed to the both end caps, and A collar for guiding the other end face of the roller along the axial direction is integrally formed so as to protrude from the slider body.

  In such a linear motion guide device of the present invention, it is preferable that a protrusion is formed on a surface of the support column facing the guide rail.

  The linear motion guide device according to the present invention is inexpensive because the number of parts is small, in addition to the fact that the rollers do not easily fall over.

It is a perspective view which shows the structure of one Embodiment of the linear guide apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is the front view which looked at the linear motion guide apparatus of FIG. 1 from the axial direction. It is a top view of a support | pillar. It is a figure explaining the function of the processus | protrusion formed in the support | pillar. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the modification of the linear motion guide apparatus of this embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the conventional linear motion guide apparatus.

  An embodiment of a linear motion guide device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a structure of an embodiment of a linear motion guide device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a front view of the linear motion guide device of FIG. The left side shows a cross section). 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 movable in the axial direction. On the left and right side surfaces 1a, 1a of the guide rail 1, two upper and lower inclined surfaces extending in the axial direction are formed in a substantially C shape, and a total of four inclined surfaces form the rolling element raceway surface 10, respectively. .

  The slider 2 is composed of a slider body 2A and end caps 2B and 2B that are detachably attached to both ends in the axial direction. Further, side seals 5 and 5 for sealing the opening of the gap between the guide rail 1 and the slider 2 are attached to both ends of the slider 2 (end surfaces of the end caps 2B). Is mounted with an under seal (not shown) that seals the opening of the gap between the guide rail 1 and the slider 2. Further, on the inner side surfaces of the left and right sleeve portions 6 and 6 of the slider body 2A, the inclined rolling element raceway surfaces 11, 11, 11 facing the rolling element raceway surfaces 10, 10, 10, 10 of the guide rail 1 are provided. , 11 are formed.

  Then, between the rolling element raceway surfaces 10, 10, 10, 10 of the guide rail 1 and the rolling element raceway surfaces 11, 11, 11, 11 of the slider 2, the rolling element rolling paths 13, 13 having a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape. , 13 and 13 are formed, and these rolling element rolling paths 13 extend in the axial direction. Note that the number of rolling element raceway surfaces 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.

In this rolling element rolling path 13, a large number of cylindrical rollers 3 that are rolling elements are loaded so as to be able to roll, and the slider 2 moves along the guide rail 1 through the rolling of these cylindrical rollers 3. It moves in the axial direction. The type of roller is not limited to the cylindrical roller, and other types of rollers can be used. A spacer may be interposed between the cylindrical rollers 3.
Furthermore, the slider 2 has a substantially rectangular cross-sectional through-hole that penetrates in the axial direction in parallel with the rolling element rolling path 13 on the upper and lower portions of the thick portions of the left and right sleeve portions 6 and 6 of the slider body 2A. The linear path 14, 14, 14, 14 is 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. In addition, on the left and right sides of the back surface of the end cap 2B (the contact surface with the slider body 2A), a semi-doughnut-shaped curved path (not shown) having a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape is formed in two upper and lower stages. When this end cap 2B is attached to the slider body 2A, the rolling element rolling path 13 and the linear path 14 are communicated with each other through a curved path. The linear path 14 and the curved paths at both ends constitute a rolling element return path for sending the cylindrical roller 3 from the end point of the rolling element rolling path 13 to the starting point. The rolling element rolling path 13 and the rolling element return path Thus, a substantially annular rolling element circulation path is formed on both the left and right sides with the guide rail 1 interposed therebetween. The straight path 14 corresponds to a first return path that is a constituent element of the present invention, and the curved path corresponds to a second return path that is a constituent element of the present invention.

  When the slider 2 assembled to the guide rail 1 moves in the axial direction along the guide rail 1, the cylindrical roller 3 loaded in the rolling element rolling path 13 rolls in the rolling element rolling path 13. However, it moves in the same direction as the slider 2 with respect to the guide rail 1. When the cylindrical roller 3 reaches the end point of the rolling element rolling path 13, the cylindrical roller 3 is scooped up from the rolling element rolling path 13 and sent to the curved path. The cylindrical roller 3 that has entered the curved path makes a U-turn and is introduced into the linear path 14, and reaches the opposite curved path through the linear path 14. Here, the U-turn is performed again to return to the starting point of the rolling element rolling path 13, and the circulation in the rolling element circulation path is repeated infinitely.

  Such a linear motion guide device is provided with a column 15 that is a substantially plate-like member extending in the axial direction (see FIG. 3). The support column 15 is attached to the slider 2 by being directly fixed to the end cap 2B. For example, the support column 15 may be fixed to the end cap 2B by fitting a projection (not shown) provided on the end cap 2B and recesses 15c provided on both ends of the support column 15. On the contrary, you may fit the recessed part provided in the end cap 2B, and the convex part provided in the both ends of the support | pillar 15. FIG.

  This support | pillar 15 is comprised with resin. The support column 15 is formed with guide surfaces 15 a and 15 a for guiding one end surface of the cylindrical roller 3 along the axial direction. On the other hand, a flange 19 extending in the axial direction is integrally formed on the slider body 2A so as to protrude from the rolling element raceway surface 11, and the other end surface of the cylindrical roller 3 is axially formed by the guide surface 19a of the collar 19. You will be guided along. Therefore, the cylindrical roller 3 is interposed between the guide surface 19a of the collar 19 and the guide surface 15a of the support column 15, and is guided along the axial direction by both the guide surfaces 15a and 19a.

  Such a linear motion guide device according to this embodiment is configured to directly attach the support column 15 to the slider 2 without using a separate fixing tool. Even when the dimensions of the rollers are increased in order to increase the load capacity without changing the dimensions, the column 15 can be attached without any problem. Further, since the support column 15 is attached to the slider 2, a sufficient reaction force is exerted even when the cylindrical roller 3 is displaced in the central axis direction of the cylindrical roller 3 due to the skew, and the cylindrical roller 3 is difficult to fall. Furthermore, since it is not necessary to use a separate fixing tool for attaching the support column 15, the linear motion guide device of this embodiment has a small number of parts and is low in cost.

Such a linear motion guide device according to the present embodiment can be used for various purposes, and can be suitably used for, for example, a machine tool, a transport facility, a production facility, and the like.
In addition, this embodiment shows an example of this invention and this invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, the protrusion 15b may be formed on the surface of the support column 15 facing the guide rail 1 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). In a normal state, the projection 15b of the support column 15 and the guide rail 1 are opposed to each other through a clearance as shown in FIG. 4A, but the cylindrical roller 3 is skewed so that the center axis direction of the cylindrical roller 3 (FIG. 4 ( When the support column 15 is lifted from the slider 2 as shown in FIG. 4B, the projection 15b immediately contacts the guide rail 1 and a sufficient reaction force is exerted. Therefore, the cylindrical roller 3 is extremely difficult to fall. When the cylindrical roller 3 is displaced in the direction opposite to the arrow in FIG. 4B, the fall of the cylindrical roller 3 is suppressed by the collar 19 formed on the slider 2.

  Since the protrusion 15b can be provided if there is a slight gap between the support column 15 and the guide rail 1, the dimensions of the rollers are used in order to increase the load capacity in the case of a small linear motion guide device or without changing the assembly dimensions. There is no problem even when increasing. The number of the protrusions 15 b is not particularly limited, and one protrusion is sufficient. However, a plurality of protrusions having the same protrusion height may be arranged in the longitudinal direction of the support column 15. When the number of the protrusions 15b is one, it is preferable to provide the protrusion 15b at the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the support column 15, so that the above effect can be enhanced. Further, the length in the longitudinal direction of the protrusion 15b is not particularly limited, and may be the length of the column 15 over the entire length direction.

  Further, a linear motion guide device of a type in which a slider 2 having a substantially square cross section is assembled inside a guide rail 1 extending in the axial direction so as to be movable in the axial direction (see FIG. 5). The present invention can also be applied to.

1 Guide rail 2 Slider 2A Slider body 2B End cap
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 Cylindrical roller 10 Rolling body raceway surface 11 Rolling body raceway surface 13 Rolling body rolling surface 14 Linear path 15 Support | pillar 15a Guide surface 15b Protrusion 19 Collar 19a Guide surface

Claims (2)

A guide rail having a rolling element raceway surface extending in the axial direction; a slider having a rolling element raceway surface facing the rolling element raceway surface of the guide rail; and a slider attached to the guide rail so as to be relatively movable in the axial direction; A plurality of rollers, which are rolling elements loaded in a rolling element rolling path formed between both rolling element raceway surfaces, and a roller that sends the rollers from the end point to the starting point of the rolling element rolling path. A moving body return path,
The rolling element return path is constituted by a first return path extending in the axial direction, and a curved second return path communicating the first return path and the rolling element rolling path,
A linear motion guide device in which the slider is composed of a slider main body having the rolling element raceway surface and the first return path, and end caps attached to both ends in the axial direction of the slider main body and having the second return path. In
A column having a guide surface for guiding one end surface of the roller along the axial direction is attached to the slider by being directly fixed to the both end caps, and the other end surface of the roller is A linear guide device characterized in that a flange that guides in a direction is integrally formed so as to protrude from the slider body.   The linear motion guide device according to claim 1, wherein a protrusion is formed on a surface of the support column facing the guide rail.

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