JP2013087936A - Linear motion device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a linear motion device which reduces costs by improving operativeness and noise performance without reducing rigidity.SOLUTION: A linear motion device 1 comprises a slider 20, a plurality of rolling bodies 30 and a holder 50. The slider 20 is disposed to be movable relatively to a guide rail and includes a slider body 22 in which a rolling body return passage 21a is formed, and a pair of end caps 23, 22 attached to both ends in a moving direction of the slider body 22. The holder 50 is assembled to the slider 20. A return guide member 40 installed within the rolling body return passage 24 is formed from an elastic material, and includes a groove part 41 and a direction change guide part 42 which is formed integrally in both ends 41a, 41a of the groove part.

Description

  The present invention relates to a linear motion device such as a linear guide device.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a linear motion device having a configuration aimed at reducing noise during operation, those disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 are known.
In the linear motion device disclosed in Patent Document 1, a rolling element circulation path is constituted by a slider body and a detachable frame. In the frame, the rolling element return passage and the direction change passage are integrally formed of synthetic resin. Therefore, there is no step between the two in the rolling element circulation path, and when the rolling element rolls between the two, the rolling element is prevented from being caught and staggered, so that good operability and noise characteristics can be obtained. Further, as compared with the conventional slider, since the rolling element return passage is not cut in the slider body, the cutting cost can be reduced.

  On the other hand, in the linear motion device disclosed in Patent Document 2, the inner periphery of the rolling element circulation path is constituted by a pair of direction change paths made of resin, a cage, a return guide member, and a rolling groove of the slider body. . And any two joining parts are integrally molded in these four parts. That is, (1) the direction change path and the return guide member, and (2) the four change faces of the direction change path and the rolling element retainer (two in each of the longitudinal end surfaces of the slider (1) and (2)). Two steps can be eliminated. Therefore, when the rolling elements roll on the joint surfaces (1) and (2), the rolling elements are caught and staggered, and the operability and noise performance are improved. Moreover, since the number of parts can be reduced by integrally molding the parts, the cost of assembly and parts can be reduced.

Patent No. 4221962 Japanese Patent No. 3571911

However, in the linear motion device (linear motion guide device) described in Patent Document 1, the ratio of the resin material to the entire slider is increased by the amount of the frame formed of synthetic resin. Therefore, there is room for improvement in terms of solving the decrease in rigidity with respect to the conventional linear motion device that processes the rolling element return passage in the slider body made of iron.
On the other hand, in Patent Document 2, when the direction changing path (1) is integrated at both ends of the return guide member, the direction changing path is caught by the rolling element return path and cannot be assembled. Here, in Patent Document 2, in [Modification 2] of [Embodiment 1], an example in which the direction change path is integrated at both ends of the return guide member is shown. It is cut at the center. Therefore, in [Modification 2], there is a step between the cage and the return guide member. As a result, when the rolling element passes through the step, the operability and noise characteristics are caused by the rolling element being caught and staggered. There is a problem of getting worse.
Accordingly, the present invention has been made paying attention to the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a linear motion device that improves operability and noise performance without lowering rigidity and realizes cost reduction. There is.

The linear motion device according to claim 1 of the present invention for solving the above-described problem is a guide rail in which a rolling element rolling surface is formed along the axial direction;
A slider having a load rolling element rolling surface that is disposed so as to be relatively movable with respect to the guide rail and that forms a rolling element rolling path together with the rolling element rolling surface, facing the rolling element rolling surface;
A plurality of rolling elements rolling on the rolling element rolling path;
A cage assembled to the slider;
The slider has a slider main body having a rolling element return passage where the rolling element rolls in an unloaded state, and is attached to both ends of the slider body in the moving direction, and is attached to both ends of the rolling element rolling path and the rolling element return passage. A pair of end caps each formed with a direction change groove communicating with each other;
The rolling element return passage includes a through hole formed along the moving direction of the slider body, and a return guide member that is fitted in the through hole and forms a passage in which the rolling element rolls in an unloaded state. Have
The return guide member is formed integrally with a groove portion that guides the rolling element in the rolling element return passage, and at both ends of the groove portion, and faces the direction changing groove, and the direction changing path together with the direction changing groove. And a direction change guide portion for guiding the rolling element, and is made of an elastic material.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the linear motion device according to the first aspect is characterized in that the return guide member is positioned on the retainer.
The linear motion device according to claim 3 of the present invention is the linear motion device according to claim 1, wherein a connecting portion that connects the direction change guide portions of the return guide members adjacent to each other is the direction change. It is provided in a guide part.

According to the present invention, the step between the direction change guide part and the return guide member can be eliminated by integrating the direction change path guide part at both ends of the return guide member. Therefore, when the rolling element passes between them, the rolling element can be prevented from being caught and staggered, and the operability and noise performance can be improved.
Moreover, since the number of parts can be reduced by integrally forming the return guide member and the direction change path guide part, it is possible to reduce the cost of assembly and parts.
Further, since the return guide member that is fitted in the through hole and integrally formed with the direction change path guide portion is formed of an elastic material, the rigidity is not lowered.
Furthermore, even when the rolling elements are staggered in the direction change path and the rolling element return path, and the rolling elements are clogged due to frictional resistance, the force is applied by the elastic deformation of the return guide member integrally formed with the direction change path guide portion. The operability can be improved by escaping in the deformation direction.

It is a front view which shows the structure in 1st Embodiment of the linear motion apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of the slider in 1st Embodiment of the linear motion apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the return guide member in 1st Embodiment of the linear motion apparatus which concerns on this invention, (a) is a top view, (b) is a side view. It is a figure which shows the structure of the slider main body in 1st Embodiment of the linear motion apparatus which concerns on this invention, (a) is a side view, (b) is a front view. It is a figure which shows the structure of the return guide member in 1st Embodiment of the linear motion apparatus which concerns on this invention, (a) is sectional drawing which follows the CC line of FIG.3 (b) before elastic deformation, (b) ) Is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 3B after elastic deformation. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the deformation | transformation of the return guide member and elongation amount in 1st Embodiment of the linear motion apparatus which concerns on this invention, (a) is elongation when the angle of a direction change path guide part is 90 degrees. FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG. 3B, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG. (C) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 3 (b) showing the amount of elongation when the angle of the direction change path guide portion is 45 °, and (d) is a direction change path guide. It is sectional drawing which follows the CC line | wire of FIG.3 (b) which shows the elongation amount when the angle of a part is 30 degrees. It is a figure which shows the elastic deformation of the return guide member in 1st Embodiment of the linear motion apparatus which concerns on this invention, (a) is C- of FIG.3 (b) which shows the shape of the direction change guide part before elastic deformation. Sectional drawing which follows the C line, (b) is a sectional view which follows the CC line of FIG.3 (b) which shows the shape of the direction change guide part after elastic deformation. It is sectional drawing which follows the DD line | wire of FIG.4 (b) which shows the insertion method of the return guide member with respect to the slider main body in 1st Embodiment of the linear motion apparatus which concerns on this invention, (a) is a return guide member. Sectional drawing before insertion, (b) is sectional drawing after insertion of a return guide member, (c) is sectional drawing which shows positioning of a return guide member. It is a figure which shows positioning of the return guide member in 1st Embodiment of the linear motion apparatus which concerns on this invention, (a) is a front view which shows the positioning protrusion of a holder | retainer, (b) is a positioning recessed part of a return guide member. The front view to show, (c) is a front view which shows the positioning method of the return guide member by a positioning protrusion and a positioning recessed part. It is a figure which shows the structure of the coupling | bonding of the return guide member in 1st Embodiment of the linear motion apparatus which concerns on this invention, (a) is sectional drawing which follows the AA line of Fig.3 (a) which shows a connection part, FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 3A showing the connecting portion, FIG. 3C is a rear view showing the connecting portion, and FIG. 4D is a front view showing the connecting portion. It is a figure which shows the structure of the return guide member in 2nd Embodiment of the linear motion apparatus which concerns on this invention, (a) is a front view, (b) is a top view, (c) is a side view. It is a figure which shows the elastic deformation of the return guide member in 2nd Embodiment of the linear motion apparatus which concerns on this invention, (a) is C- of FIG.3 (b) which shows the shape of the direction change guide part before elastic deformation. Sectional drawing which follows the C line, (b) is a sectional view which follows the CC line of FIG.3 (b) which shows the shape of the direction change guide part after elastic deformation. It is sectional drawing which follows the CC line of FIG.3 (b) which shows the structure of the return guide member in 3rd Embodiment of the linear motion apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the deformation | transformation of a return guide member and elongation amount in 3rd Embodiment of the linear motion apparatus which concerns on this invention, and is a figure which shows elongation amount when the angle of a direction change path guide part is 30 degrees It is sectional drawing which follows the CC line of 3 (b).

Embodiments of a linear motion device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a front view showing the configuration of the linear motion device of the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the slider in the linear motion device of the present embodiment. 3A and 3B are diagrams showing the configuration of the return guide member in the linear motion device of the present embodiment, wherein FIG. 3A is a plan view and FIG. 3B is a side view. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing the configuration of the slider body in the linear motion device of the present embodiment, where FIG. 4A is a side view and FIG. 4B is a front view. FIG. 5 is a view showing the configuration of the return guide member in the linear motion device of the present embodiment. FIG. 5A is a sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG. 3B before elastic deformation. ) Is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 3B after elastic deformation. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the relationship between the deformation of the return guide member and the extension amount in the linear motion device of the present embodiment, and (a) shows the extension when the angle of the direction change path guide portion is 90 °. FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG. 3B, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG. (C) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 3 (b) showing the amount of elongation when the angle of the direction change path guide portion is 45 °, and (d) is a direction change path guide. It is sectional drawing which follows the CC line | wire of FIG.3 (b) which shows the elongation amount when the angle of a part is 30 degrees. FIG. 7 is a view showing elastic deformation of the return guide member in the linear motion device of the present embodiment, and (a) shows the shape of the direction changing guide portion before elastic deformation, C- of FIG. 3 (b). Sectional drawing which follows the C line, (b) is a sectional view which follows the CC line of FIG.3 (b) which shows the shape of the direction change guide part after elastic deformation. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD of FIG. 4B showing a method of inserting the return guide member into the slider main body in the linear motion device of the present embodiment, and FIG. Sectional drawing before insertion, (b) is sectional drawing after insertion of a return guide member, (c) is sectional drawing which shows positioning of a return guide member. FIGS. 9A and 9B are views showing the positioning of the return guide member in the linear motion device of the present embodiment. FIG. 9A is a front view showing the positioning projection of the cage, and FIG. The front view to show, (c) is a front view which shows the positioning method of the return guide member by a positioning protrusion and a positioning recessed part. Moreover, FIG. 10 is a figure which shows the structure of the coupling | bonding of the return guide member in the linear motion apparatus of this embodiment, (a) is sectional drawing which follows the AA line of FIG. 3 (a) which shows a connection part, FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 3A showing the connecting portion, FIG. 3C is a rear view showing the connecting portion, and FIG. 4D is a front view showing the connecting portion.

<Configuration of linear motion device>
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a linear motion device (linear guide) 1 according to this embodiment includes a guide rail 10 having a rolling element rolling surface 11, and a rolling element such as a ball with respect to the guide rail 10. And a slider 20 having a load rolling element rolling surface 21 opposed to the rolling element rolling surface 11 so as to be relatively movable via 30.

<Guide rail>
The guide rail 10 has a total of four rolling element rolling surfaces 11 formed on the both side surfaces along the axial direction (longitudinal direction). In the present embodiment, the rolling elements are balls and the rolling element rows are described as four linear guides (linear motion devices). However, the rolling elements may be rollers, and the rolling element rows may be a combination of two rows.

<Slider>
The slider 20 includes a slider body 22 and end caps 23 that are respectively attached to both ends of the slider body 22 in the axial direction.
The shapes of the slider body 22 and the end cap 23 that are continuous in the axial direction (the axial direction of the guide rail 10) are both substantially U-shaped cross-sectional shapes. On the inner side of the substantially U-shaped slider body 22, a total of four rolling rolling element rolling surfaces 21 respectively opposed to the rolling element rolling surfaces 11 of the guide rail 10 are formed.

  In the thick part of the sleeve portion of the substantially U-shaped slider main body 22, rolling element return passages 24 extending substantially parallel to the respective load rolling element rolling surfaces 21 at a predetermined interval are formed. The rolling element return passage 24 includes a through hole 25 having a circular cross section that is continuous in the longitudinal direction, and a return guide member 40 fitted into the through hole 25. That is, one return guide member 40 is fitted into one rolling element return passage 24.

In the end cap 23, a pair of direction changing grooves 23 a communicating with both ends of the load rolling element rolling surface 21 is formed on the surface facing the end of the slider body 22.
Further, the slider body 22 is provided with a cage 50 for preventing the rolling elements 30 from falling off when the slider 20 is removed from the guide rail 10 inside the sleeve portions of the slider body 22 (see FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 (a), (b) reference).
<Return guide member>
As shown in FIG. 3, the return guide member 40 includes a groove portion 41 and direction change guide portions 42 provided integrally with both end portions 41, 41 of the groove portion 41.

[Groove]
The shape of the groove portion 41 is a half pipe whose cross-sectional shape continuous in the longitudinal direction forms an arc shape (for example, a semicircular shape). As described above, when the rolling element return passage 24 is configured using the half-tube-shaped groove portion 41, the diameter of the through hole 25 drilled in the slider 20 can be increased, and thus the manufacturability of the linear motion device 1 can be improved. .
The groove portion 41 serves as a guide for the rolling element 30 to roll in an unloaded state, and the return guide member 40 is fitted into the rolling element return passage 24 to become a passage for the rolling element 30. The radius of curvature of the groove 41 is set slightly larger than the diameter of the rolling element 30. Therefore, the rolling element 30 can move smoothly in the space in the rolling element return passage 24 in which the return guide member 40 is fitted.

[Direction change guide]
The direction change guide part 42 formed integrally with both ends 41a and 41a of the groove part 41 is a member that is formed so as to face the direction change groove 23a and guides the track inside the rolling element 30. Then, the direction change path 26 that guides the track of the rolling element 30 in the end cap 23 is formed by the direction change groove 23 a of the end cap 23 and the direction change guide portion 42.
Here, as a material of the return guide member 40 (the groove portion 41 and the direction change guide portion 42), an elastically deformable material (elastomer resin, rubber material, or the like) is employed.
Thus, the operability and noise performance of the linear motion device 1 are improved by integrally forming the groove portion 41 and the direction changing guide portion 42 constituting the return guide member 40.

  Further, by adopting an elastic material as the material of the return guide member 40, one of the direction change guide portions 42 of the return guide member 40 is deformed, and the return guide member 40 is smoothly fitted in the rolling element return passage 24. Workability is improved. The deformation of the return guide member 40 differs depending on the design of the rolling element return passage 24, the radius of curvature of the infinite circulation path described later, the clearance setting between the rolling element 30 and the return guide member 40, etc. It is preferred to use the resulting material.

<Infinite circuit>
In the linear motion device 1, a space between the rolling element rolling surface 11 of the guide rail 10 and the load rolling element rolling surface 21 of the slider body 22 facing the rolling element rolling surface is a rolling element rolling path. 27.
Thus, in the slider 20, a total of four infinite circulation paths 28 that are annularly continuous are formed by the rolling element return path 24, the direction changing path 26, and the rolling element rolling path 27. Here, a plurality of spherical balls 30 as rolling elements are loaded in the infinite circulation path 28, and the plurality of rolling elements 30 circulate while rolling in the infinite circulation path 28.

[Installation of return guide members]
Here, a method of elastically deforming the return guide member 40 formed as described above to smoothly install (internally fit) the return guide member 40 in the rolling element return passage 24 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, first, the direction changing guide portion 42 on one side of the return guide member 40 (the side to be inserted into the rolling element return passage 24) is deformed. The direction in which the direction change guide part 42 is deformed is preferably the direction along the longitudinal direction of the groove part 41 (the direction in which the change guide part 42 is parallel to the groove part 41).

Here, as described above, the extension amount d of the return guide member 40 is greatly required as the groove portion 41 and the direction change guide portion 42 become parallel by deforming the direction change guide portion 42. A material that can withstand the material of the member 40 is employed. Elastic elongation is required.
When the direction change guide part 42 is deformed in this way, as shown in FIGS. 6A to 6D, the groove part 41 and the direction change guide part 42 become parallel to the cage 50 and the rolling element return passage. Since the cross-sectional area of the direction change guide part at the time of insertion becomes small, it becomes easy to insert.

  Next, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the thin-walled portions at the four corners in the cross-sectional direction of the direction changing guide portion 42 are deformed. At this time, the amount of deformation varies depending on the design such as the amount of deformation in the longitudinal direction, the radius of curvature of the rolling element return passage 24, the infinite circulation path 28 of the rolling element 30, and the clearance setting of the rolling element and the return guide member 40. FIGS. 7A and 7B show, as an example, a state of 30 ° deformation in the longitudinal direction shown in FIG. 6D. Therefore, as the material of the return guide member 40, a material capable of obtaining necessary elastic deformation is selected according to each design.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 8 (b), the return guide member 40 obtained by deforming one of the direction change guide portions 42 is opposite to the through hole 25 formed in the slider main body 22 shown in FIG. 8 (a). Then, it is inserted from the deformed one direction change guide part 42 side. Then, as shown in FIG. 8 (c), the deformed one direction changing guide portion 42 is returned to the same state as the other direction changing guide portion 42 by the elastic force, and the slider main body 22 of the slider main body 22 is placed in the through hole 25. Position by rotating around the axial direction.

[Positioning protrusion]
Here, the return guide member 40 may be positioned on the cage 50 in order to suitably position the return guide member 40 installed in the through hole 25. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9A, a positioning projection 52 is provided in a hole 51 corresponding to the through hole 25 in the cage 50. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9 (b), a positioning recess 42 b is formed on the back surface 42 a of the rolling surface of the rolling element 30 in the direction changing guide portion 42. The positioning protrusions 52 and the positioning recesses 42b are respectively provided in the retainer 50 and the direction change guide portion 42 at positions where the installation positions of the return guide members 40 in the through holes 25 are preferably positioned. And as shown in FIG.9 (c), the return guide member 40 is suitably positioned in the through-hole 25 via the holder | retainer 50 by fitting the positioning protrusion 52 and the positioning recessed part 42b.

[Connecting part]
As another example of the present embodiment, the direction change guide part 42 may be formed with a connection part for connecting to the adjacent direction change guide part 42.
Specifically, the return guide members 40 inserted into the rolling element return passages 24 and 24 formed in the sleeve portion of the slider body 22 in the vertical direction (the direction in which the sleeve portion of the slider 20 protrudes, see FIG. 2). , 40 are connected to each other. That is, as shown in FIGS. 10A to 10D, each of the two direction changing guide portions 42 and 42 adjacent to each other in the vertical direction of the slider main body 22 is connected to form a protrusion or groove that fits with the mating side. The part 42c is formed in the direction in which the opposite direction change guide part 42 is installed. And two direction change guide parts 42 and 42 adjacent to the up-and-down direction of slider main part 22 are combined.
Thus, by connecting the direction change guide parts 42 and 42 by the connection parts 42c and 42c, it becomes easy to design a greasing structure for the rolling element return passage 24 in the vertical direction.

  As described above, according to the linear motion device of the present embodiment, the return guide member is integrally formed with the direction changing guide portions at both ends thereof, so that a step is generated between the return guide member and the direction changing guide portion. do not do. Therefore, when the rolling element passes between the return guide member and the direction change guide portion, the rolling element can be prevented from being caught and staggered, and the operability and noise characteristics of the linear guide product can be improved.

Further, the return guide member can be elastically deformed, and passes through the rolling element return passage by elastically deforming the direction change guide portion. Therefore, assembly is possible even if the direction change guide portions are provided at both ends of the return guide member, so that the number of parts can be reduced and the cost of assembly / parts can be reduced.
Further, since the return guide member has elasticity, the return guide member and the direction change guide section generate staggered rolling elements, and even if the rolling element is clogged by frictional resistance, the return guide member and the direction change guide section Since the force can be released in the deformation direction from the elastic deformation, the operability can be improved.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the linear motion device according to the present invention will be described.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the configuration of the return guide member in the linear motion device of the present embodiment, where (a) is a front view, (b) is a plan view, and (c) is a side view. FIG. 12 is a view showing elastic deformation of the return guide member in the linear motion device of the present embodiment, and FIG. 12 (a) shows the shape of the direction change guide portion before elastic deformation. Sectional drawing which follows the C line, (b) is a sectional view which follows the CC line of FIG.3 (b) which shows the shape of the direction change guide part after elastic deformation. In addition, since this embodiment is the same as that of 1st Embodiment except the shapes of a direction change guide part differing, description is abbreviate | omitted about the same structure which attached | subjected the same code | symbol as 1st Embodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 11A to 11C, the direction changing guide portion 42 of the present embodiment has four corners 42d that are tapered (tapered). Thus, the reason why the four corners 42d of the direction changing guide part 42 are tapered (tapered) is that the deformation in the cross-sectional direction of the direction changing guide part 42 depends on the outer peripheral shape of the direction changing guide part 42. .
Thus, by making the four corners 42d of the direction change guide part 42 into a tapered shape (tapered shape), the amount of deformation required in the cross-sectional direction of the direction change guide part 42 is reduced compared to the first embodiment. There is an effect that work efficiency is improved.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, since the deformed portion is thinner than the first embodiment, it is easy to deform. FIG. 12 is an example in which the return guide member is deformed in the longitudinal direction at an angle of 30 ° as in the first embodiment.
By adopting such a configuration, the deformation in the cross-sectional direction is easier than in the first embodiment, and the assembly cycle is shortened.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of the linear motion device according to the present invention will be described.
FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC of FIG. 3B showing the configuration of the return guide member in the linear motion device of the present embodiment. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the relationship between the deformation of the return guide member and the extension amount in the linear motion device of the present embodiment, and shows the extension amount when the angle of the direction change path guide portion is 30 °. It is sectional drawing which follows the CC line of 3 (b). In addition, since this embodiment is the same as that of 1st Embodiment except the shapes of the edge part (connection part with a direction change guide part) of a return guide member differing, the same code | symbol as 1st Embodiment is used. A description of the same components attached is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 13, in this embodiment, the edge part (connection part with the direction change guide part 42) 41a of the groove part 41 is thin compared with 1st Embodiment.
Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14, the end portion of the groove portion 41 (the connecting portion with the direction changing guide portion 42) 41a is thinner than the first embodiment. The direction change guide part 42 is easily extended in the longitudinal direction of the groove part 41.
As described above, since the end portion (connecting portion with the direction change guide portion 42) 41a of the groove portion 41 is thinned, the return guide member 40 (direction change guide portion 42) in the longitudinal direction is longer than the first embodiment. Deformation is easy, and the assembly cycle is shortened.

As described above, according to the linear motion device of the present invention, the groove portion and the direction change guide portion constituting the return guide member are integrated at both ends of the groove portion, so that the groove portion and the direction change guide portion are formed. The step between them can be eliminated. Therefore, when a rolling element passes between a groove part and a direction change guide part, a rolling element's catch and zigzag generation can be controlled, and operability and noise nature are improved.
In addition, since the number of parts can be reduced by integrally forming the return guide member, the cost of assembly and parts can be reduced.
Further, since the return guide member that is fitted in the through hole and the direction change path guide portion is integrally formed in the groove portion is formed of an elastic material, the rigidity is not lowered.
Further, even when the rolling elements are staggered in the groove and the direction changing guide and the rolling elements are clogged by frictional resistance, the operability can be improved by releasing the force in the deformation direction by elastic deformation of the return guide member.
As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention has been described, this invention is not limited to this, A various change and improvement can be performed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Linear motion apparatus 10 Guide rail 20 Slider 22 Slider main body 23 End cap 24 Rolling body return path 30 Rolling body 40 Return guide member 41 Groove part 42 Direction change guide part 42b Positioning recessed part 42c Connection part 50 Cage 52 Positioning protrusion

Claims (3)

A guide rail in which a rolling element rolling surface is formed along the axial direction;
A slider having a load rolling element rolling surface that is disposed so as to be relatively movable with respect to the guide rail and that forms a rolling element rolling path together with the rolling element rolling surface, facing the rolling element rolling surface;
A plurality of rolling elements rolling on the rolling element rolling path;
A cage assembled to the slider;
The slider has a slider main body having a rolling element return passage where the rolling element rolls in an unloaded state, and is attached to both ends of the slider body in the moving direction, and is attached to both ends of the rolling element rolling path and the rolling element return passage. A pair of end caps each formed with a direction change groove communicating with each other;
The rolling element return passage includes a through hole formed along the moving direction of the slider body, and a return guide member that is fitted in the through hole and forms a passage in which the rolling element rolls in an unloaded state. Have
The return guide member is formed integrally with a groove portion that guides the rolling element in the rolling element return passage, and at both ends of the groove portion, and faces the direction changing groove, and the direction changing path together with the direction changing groove. And a direction change guide portion for guiding the rolling element, and is made of an elastic material.   The linear motion device according to claim 1, wherein the return guide member is positioned on the cage.   The linear motion device according to claim 1, wherein a connecting portion that connects the direction change guide portions of the adjacent return guide members is provided in the direction change guide portion.

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