JP2013152010A - Ball holder and linear guide device equipped with ball holder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a ball holder having an engaging hook which is hardly slipped off, and a linear guide device equipped with the ball holder.SOLUTION: A ball holder has a shape of a frame including a pair of long sides facing each other, and the long sides have hooks protruding toward opposing long sides. The hooks have claws capable of being engaged with each other, and the hooks can be engaged with each other with the claws engaged with each other. The hooks have the same thicknesses as a thickness of a frame. The claws protrude in a direction to which a plane formed of a pair of the long sides extends in a cross section perpendicular to the thickness direction of the frame, and can be engaged with each other.

Description

  The present invention relates to a ball cage and a linear guide device including the ball cage.

  A linear guide device used by being attached to a conveying device, a machine tool or the like includes a guide rail and a bearing attached to the guide rail through a number of steel balls so as to be slidable in the axial direction of the guide rail. Yes. The bearing is provided with a ball cage. The steel ball is held on the bearing by a ball cage. Patent Document 1 describes a ball cage capable of loading a steel ball into a bearing or taking out a loaded steel ball without removing an end cap or a ball cage from the bearing. .

  FIG. 6A shows a bottom view of such a conventional ball cage, that is, a state where the ball cage assembled to the bearing is viewed from below, and FIG. It is sectional drawing of the engagement hook part in a line. B indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 6B indicates a steel ball held on the bearing 310 by the ball holder 346. FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the engagement hook portion, where (a) shows a state in which opposing surfaces of each engagement hook portion are in contact with each other, and (b) shows that the engagement hook portions are engaged with each other. It shows the state.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, the ball cage 346 is formed in a rectangular frame shape by a pair of long side portions 356 and a pair of short side portions 358. The ball cage 346 is disposed on the bearing 310 so that the long side portion 356 is parallel to the axial direction of the linear guide device. Both long side portions 356 are provided with ball holding grooves 360 for supporting steel balls. As shown in FIG. 6B, engagement hook portions 374 that project toward the opposed long side portions 356 are provided on the inner side of the central portion of each long side portion 356. In the normal use, the engaging hook portions 374 are opposed to each other with a space therebetween as shown in FIG. 6 (b). When the steel balls are taken out, they can be engaged with each other.

  The engagement hook portion 374 is engaged using a tool or the like. That is, the two engaging hook portions 374 are moved closer to each other with a tool or the like. Then, as shown in FIG. 7A, the opposing surfaces of the two engaging hook portions 374 come into contact with each other, and the claw portions 378 are hooked to each other as shown in FIG. 7B. When the engagement hook portions 374 are engaged with each other in this way, the long side portions 356 of the ball cage 346 are deformed inward at the center portions as shown in FIG. Will be bent. When the long side portion 356 is bent like a bow, the distance between the center portion of the long side portion 356 and the bearing 310 is widened. Then, it becomes possible to easily load the steel ball into the bearing 310 from the portion where the interval is widened or to remove the steel ball from the bearing 310.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-19855

  As shown in FIG. 7B, the hook portions in the conventional ball cage are engaged with each other by hooking the claw portions 378 of the hook portions 374. When the claw portions 378 are hooked with each other, that is, when shifting from the state shown in FIG. 7A to the state shown in FIG. 7B, the hook portions 374 are elastically deformed so as to warp in the thickness direction. Specifically, the hook portion 374 on the left side in FIG. 7A warps in the direction of arrow U, and the hook portion 374 on the right side in FIG. 7 warps in the direction of arrow D. Therefore, the thickness of each hook portion 374 is formed to be about 1/5 of the thickness of the ball cage 346 in consideration of the deformation amount in the thickness direction. In other words, even if the hook portion 374 is elastically deformed in the thickness direction, a part of the hook portion 374 is formed so as not to protrude above the upper surface of the ball cage 346 or below the lower surface. Yes. Since each hook portion 374 is thinly formed as described above, the force for maintaining the engaged state is weak, and the hook is removed due to the collision of a hand, a tool, or the steel ball at the time of assembling the steel ball. There is a problem that the deformed state of is released. If the deformed state is released at an unexpected timing, the steel ball may be thrown off and lost.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a condition, and makes it a subject to provide the linear guide apparatus provided with the ball holder and this ball holder with which engagement of each hook part is hard to remove | deviate.

  To achieve the above object, a ball cage according to the present invention includes a guide rail and a bearing disposed on the guide rail so as to be movable in the axial direction of the guide rail via a plurality of balls. A frame-shaped shape having a pair of opposed long sides is used in a linear guide device in which a plurality of rolling grooves in which the plurality of balls roll are formed on a surface of the bearing facing the guide rail. Each of the pair of long side portions is formed with a ball holding groove facing the rolling groove, and each long side portion is provided with a hook portion protruding toward the facing long side portion. The hook portions are formed with hooks that can be hooked with each other, and the hook portions are hooked with each other from a state in which the hook portions face each other with a space between the hooks. In the engaged state In the ball retainer in which the pair of long side portions are deformed in the engaged state and hold the deformed state, each hook portion has a thickness dimension of the frame shape. The claw portions protrude in the direction in which the plane formed by the pair of long side portions extends and engage with each other in a cross section perpendicular to the thickness direction of the frame-shaped shape. It is possible.

  Preferably, the ball cage according to the present invention is characterized in that the directions in which the respective claw portions protrude are one side and the other side in the longitudinal direction of the frame shape.

  Preferably, in the ball cage according to the present invention, when the hook portions are changed from the mutually opposed state to the engaged state, the plane formed by the pair of long side portions extends. It is characterized by being in the engaged state after being elastically deformed.

  Preferably, in the ball cage according to the present invention, each long side portion is formed with an extending portion extending toward the opposed long side portion, and each hook portion is extended with the extension. The claw portions are in contact with the other extension portion in the engaged state, respectively.

  Preferably, the linear guide device according to the present invention includes any one of the ball cages described above.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the linear guide apparatus provided with the ball holder and this ball holder which are hard to remove | engage each hook part can be provided.

1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a linear guide device according to a first embodiment with a part cut away. It is a side view of the principal part of the linear guide apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment, and has shown it notching one part. (A) is a bottom view showing the overall shape of the ball cage according to the first embodiment, (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line II of (a), and the horizontal ball cage is pivoted The cross section of the state seen from the direction is shown. It is an enlarged view of a hook part. It is a bottom view of a bearing, (a) shows a normal use state of the ball cage, (b) shows a state in which the hook portion of the ball cage is engaged. (A) is a bottom view of a conventional ball cage, and (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX of (a). It is an expanded sectional view of the engagement hook part of the conventional ball cage, (a) shows the state where the surfaces where each engagement hook part counters, and (b) shows each engagement hook part The state which has mutually engaged is shown. It is a bottom view which shows the shape of a ball holder in the state where the engagement hook part of the conventional ball holder is mutually engaged.

  Hereinafter, a linear guide device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this specification, in the state where the guide rail is normally horizontal, the longitudinal direction of the guide rail is the axial direction, the direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction with respect to the axial direction is the width direction, the axial direction and The direction perpendicular to the width direction is the up-down direction. Further, at this time, the upper surface, the lower surface, and the both surfaces extending in the axial direction are respectively referred to as an upper surface, a lower surface, and a side surface, and a surface on the end portion side in the axial direction is defined as an end surface. Further, these directions and names of the respective surfaces are the same in the state where the bearing is assembled to the guide rail in the bearing and the ball cage assembled to the bearing.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a linear guide device 1 according to the present embodiment with a part thereof cut away. FIG. 2 is a side view of the main part of the linear guide device 1, with a part cut away.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a linear guide device 1 is configured such that a guide rail 4 having a substantially square cross section extending in the axial direction and a steel ball 7 which is a rolling element are movable on the guide rail 4 in the axial direction. And a bearing 10 attached thereto. The bearing 10 has a recess 13 extending in the axial direction on the lower surface side, and the cross-sectional shape viewed from the axial direction is substantially U-shaped. The recess 13 is formed through both end faces of the bearing 10. In the bearing 10, the recess 13 is disposed on the guide rail 4 across the guide rail 4.

  An upper rolling groove 16 for rolling the steel ball 7 extends in the axial direction at the ridge line where the side surface 4a and the upper surface 4c on one side of the guide rail 4 intersect. The upper rolling groove 16 is formed in a substantially arc shape in cross section. A similar upper rolling groove 16 is also formed in the ridge line portion between the side surface 4b and the upper surface 4c on the other side of the guide rail 4. Further, a lower rolling groove 17 for rolling the steel ball 7 extends in the axial direction at a substantially intermediate position in the vertical direction of the side surface 4a on one side of the guide rail 4. The lower rolling groove 17 is formed in a substantially ½ arc shape in cross section. An escape groove 18 is formed at the bottom of the lower rolling groove 17 over the entire length of the lower rolling groove 17. A similar lower rolling groove 17 and escape groove 18 are formed at a substantially intermediate position in the vertical direction of the other side surface 4 b of the guide rail 4. As described above, the guide rail 4 is formed with four rolling grooves 16 and 17 in total on the side surfaces 4a and 4b, two on each of the upper and lower sides.

  The bearing 10 includes a bearing main body 19 and end caps 22 a and 22 b that are detachably attached to respective axial ends of the bearing main body 19. The bearing main body 19 includes a pair of leg portions 25 a and 25 b arranged to extend downward along the side surfaces 4 a and 4 b of the guide rail 4, and a pair of leg portions 25 a and 25 b on the upper surface of the guide rail 4. It is comprised from the trunk | drum 28 connected on the 4c side. Side seals 31a and 31b, which are dust-proof parts, are provided at the axial ends of the end caps 22a and 22b opposite to the bearing body 19 side, that is, at the outermost ends in the axial direction of the bearing 10, respectively. It is installed. These side seals 31a and 31b seal the gap between the guide rail 4 and the bearing 10, and prevent foreign matters such as dust from entering from the outside.

  On the inner side surface of one leg portion 25a of the bearing body 19, that is, the surface facing the side surface 4a on one side of the guide rail 4, the upper rolling groove 16 and the lower side rolling formed on the side surface 4a on the one side are formed. An upper rolling groove 34 and a lower rolling groove 35 for rolling the steel ball 7 are formed at positions facing each of the rolling grooves 17. A similar upper rolling groove 34 (not shown) and lower rolling groove 35 (not shown) are also formed on the inner surface of the other leg portion 25b of the bearing body 19. An upper rolling path 37 for rolling the steel ball 7 is formed by the upper rolling groove 16 of the guide rail 4 and the upper rolling groove 34 of the bearing body 19. Further, a lower rolling path (not shown) for rolling the steel ball 7 is formed by the lower rolling groove 17 of the guide rail 4 and the lower rolling groove 35 of the bearing body 19. . Thus, the guide rail 4 and the bearing 10 are formed with four rolling paths in total, two on each side, one on the upper side and the other on the lower side.

  Further, one leg portion 25a of the bearing 10 has an upper straight path 40 and a lower straight line penetrating in the axial direction through a thick portion of the leg portion 25a in parallel with the upper rolling path 37 and the lower rolling path, respectively. A path 41 is formed. That is, two straight paths 40 and 41 are formed on one leg portion 25a. Similarly, an upper straight path 40 (not shown) and a lower straight path 41 (not shown) are formed on the other leg 25b of the bearing 10 as well.

  The end caps 22 a and 22 b are on the contact surface side with the bearing body 19 and correspond to the pair of legs 25 a and 25 b of the bearing body 19. A semi-doughnut-shaped upper curved path (not shown) that communicates with the straight path 40, and a semi-doughnut-shaped lower curved path (not shown) that communicates the lower rolling path (not shown) and the lower straight path 41. ) And are formed. Each end cap 22a, 22b is formed with a total of four curved paths with two on one side. The upper straight path 40 and the upper curved path at both ends form an upper return path that feeds and circulates the steel ball 7 from one end of the upper rolling path 37 to the other end, and the upper return path An annular upper circulation path 43 is formed by the upper rolling path 37. Similarly, a lower return path that feeds and circulates the steel ball 7 from one end of the lower rolling path (not shown) to the other end is formed by the lower straight path 41 and the lower curved path at both ends. An annular lower circulation path (not shown) is formed by the lower return path and a lower rolling path (not shown). That is, a total of four circulation paths are formed in the guide rail 4 and the bearing 10. A large number of steel balls 7 are slidably loaded in the annular upper circulation path 43 and the lower circulation path, respectively. The bearing 10 moves in the axial direction on the guide rail 4 through these many steel balls 7.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a ball cage 46 is disposed in the recess 13 of the bearing 10 in parallel with the upper surface 4 c of the guide rail 4. As shown in FIG. 2, locking portions 48 projecting in the axial direction are formed at both ends in the axial direction of the ball cage 46. Moreover, the recessed part 50 engaged with each latching | locking part 48 of the ball holder 46 is each formed in the contact surface side with the bearing main-body part 19 of end cap 22a, 22b. The ball holder 46 is supported by the bearing 10 by engaging the locking portions 48 at both ends with the recesses 50 of the end caps 22a and 22b. The ball cage 46 supports the steel balls 7 located on the upper rolling path 37 and prevents the steel balls 7 from falling off the upper rolling path 37. The detailed configuration of the ball holder 46 will be described later.

  Further, the bearing 10 is provided with a rod-shaped ball cage 52 for supporting the steel ball 7 located in the lower rolling path. Both ends of the rod-shaped ball cage 52 are supported by the end caps 22 a and 22 b, and the other portions are accommodated in the escape grooves 18 of the guide rail 4.

  When the bearing 10 is moved along the axial direction of the guide rail 4, the steel balls 7 positioned in the upper rolling path 37 and the lower rolling path (not shown) are respectively moved to the upper rolling path 37 and the lower rolling path. It moves in the same direction as the bearing 10 with respect to the guide rail 4 while rolling in the moving path. When the steel balls 7 reach the end portions on one side of the upper rolling path 37 and the lower rolling path, respectively, an upper curved path (not shown) and a lower side provided in the end cap 22a (or 22b). Each enters a curved path (not shown). The steel balls 7 entering each curved path make a U-turn and enter the upper straight path 40 and the lower straight path 41, respectively, and roll in the straight paths 40, 41 to enter the opposite end cap 22b (or 22a). To the upper curved path (not shown) and the lower curved path (not shown). Then, the U-turn is made again on the curved path on the opposite side, and the upper rolling path 37 and the lower rolling path are returned to the other ends. As the bearing 10 moves, the steel ball 7 repeats such circulation in the upper circulation path 43 and the lower circulation path.

  Further, the guide rail 4 is provided with a bolt hole 54 for attaching the guide rail 4 to a mounting portion such as a machine tool.

  Next, the configuration of the ball holder 46 will be described. FIG. 3A is a bottom view showing the overall shape of the ball cage 46. That is, the ball holder 46 assembled to the bearing 10 is viewed from below. FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I in FIG. 3A, and shows a cross section of the horizontal ball cage as viewed from the axial direction. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the hook portion.

  The ball cage 46 is an injection molded product of a synthetic resin material, and is formed into a rectangular frame shape by a pair of long side portions 56R and 56L and a pair of short side portions 58a and 58b, as shown in FIG. Has been. The pair of long side portions 56R and 56L and the pair of short side portions 58a and 58b are formed on the same plane. In the present embodiment, the thickness dimension of the pair of long side portions 56R and 56L is the thickness dimension of the ball cage 46 itself. The ball cage 46 has long side portions 56R, 56L parallel to the axial direction of the guide rail 4 between the lower surface of the body portion 28 of the bearing body 19 and the upper surface 4c of the guide rail 4, and the short side portion 58a, 58b is arranged so as to be parallel to the width direction of the guide rail 4.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, ball holding grooves 60 </ b> R and 60 </ b> L having a substantially arc-shaped cross section are provided on the ridge line portions between the outer side surfaces and the lower surface of the long side portions 56 </ b> R and 56 </ b> L. The ball holding grooves 60R and 60L are provided over the entire length of the long side portions 56R and 56L, respectively. Accordingly, the upper edges 62R and 62L of the ball holding grooves 60R and 60L are located on the outer side surfaces of the long side portions 56R and 56L, respectively, and the lower edges 64R and 64L are located on the lower surfaces of the long side portions 56R and 56L, respectively. . In a state where the ball cage 46 is assembled to the bearing 10, between the lower edges 64R and 64L of the ball holding grooves 60R and 60L and the lower edges 66 and 66 of the upper rolling groove 34, During normal use, a gap L having a width slightly narrower than the diameter of the steel ball 7 is formed. With such a configuration, each of the ball holding grooves 60R and 60L holds the steel ball 7 that rolls on the upper rolling groove 34 formed in the leg portions 25a and 25b of the bearing body 19 respectively.

  On the inner side of each of the long side portions 56R and 56L, flat plate portions 68R and 68L extending inward, that is, toward the opposing long side portions 56L and 56R, are formed. Each flat plate portion 68R, 68L extends to a distance of about 1/4 to 1/3 of the distance to the intermediate line between the long side portions 56R, 56L. The thickness dimensions of the flat plate portions 68R and 68L are formed to be substantially the same as the thickness dimensions of the long side portions 56R and 56L (the vertical dimension in FIG. 3B), that is, the thickness dimension of the ball cage 46. ing. Extending portions 70 </ b> R and 70 </ b> L are formed at the center portions in the longitudinal direction of the flat plate portions 68 </ b> R and 68 </ b> L inwardly (in the vertical center portion in FIG. 3A). Each extending portion 70R, 70L has an axial dimension that decreases toward the inward side, and is formed in a substantially triangular shape as shown in FIG. 3A when viewed from above or below. . The extending portions 70R and 70L extend to the vicinity of the middle line between the long side portions 56R and 56L, respectively. The thickness dimensions of the extending portions 70R and 70L are the same as the thickness dimensions of the flat plate portions 68R and 68L. Work holes 72R and 72L for using a tool such as a hole snap ring pliers are provided in the central portions of the extending portions 70R and 70L, respectively.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, hook portions 74R and 74L are formed at the distal ends of the extending portions 70R and 70L, respectively, and the pair of hook portions 74R and 74L face each other. The hook portions 74R and 74L face each other at a predetermined interval during normal use, but can be engaged with each other as described later. The long side portions 56R and 56L can be elastically deformed like a bow with the engagement of the hook portions 74R and 74L.

  In the following description, in FIG. 3A, the vertical direction is the width direction of the ball cage 46 and the guide rail 4, the lower side is one side in the width direction, and the upper side is the other side in the width direction. 3A, the left-right direction is the longitudinal direction of the ball cage 46, that is, the axial direction of the guide rail 4, the left side is one side of the axial direction, and the right side is the other side of the axial direction.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the hook portion 74R on one side.
The hook portion 74R on one side is integrally provided with a base portion 76R and a claw portion 78R, and the base portion 76R is the long side on the other side facing the end edge portion on the long side portion 56L side of the extending portion 70R from the end edge portion. The claw portion 78R protrudes from the base portion 76R toward the longitudinal direction of the ball cage 46, that is, toward one side of the guide rail 4 in the axial direction. The base portion 76R is formed to have the same thickness dimension as that of the extending portion 70R.

  The claw portion 78R is formed so as to protrude from the long side portion 56L side portion of the surface on one axial side of the surface of the base portion 76R toward the one axial side. In other words, when the claw portion 78R is viewed in a cross section perpendicular to the thickness direction of the pair of long side portions 56R and 56L, the claw portion 78R has an axial direction out of the directions in which the plane formed by the pair of long side portions 56R and 56L extends. It protrudes toward one side. Further, the claw portion 78R is formed in the same thickness dimension as the thickness dimension of the extending portion 70R. That is, the thickness dimension of the claw portion 78R is formed to be approximately the same as the thickness dimension of the ball cage 46.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the claw portion 78R has a surface 88R facing the hook portion 74L, and a surface 90R on the back side of the surface 88R across the thick portion of the claw portion 78R. The surface 90R extends in the thickness direction of the extending portion 70R perpendicular to the plane defined by the pair of long side portions 56R and 56L, and is formed in parallel with the long side portion 56R. The surface 88R extends in the thickness direction of the extending portion 70R perpendicularly to the plane defined by the pair of long side portions 56R, 56L, and the top end portion of the base portion 78R and the top portion of the claw portion 78R. It extends at a predetermined angle with respect to the pair of long side portions 56R and 56L so as to connect the side, that is, the end portion on one side in the axial direction of the surface 90R. Further, a concave portion 92R is formed by the surface 90R of the claw portion 78R, the long side portion 56R side portion of the surface on the one axial side of the base portion 76R, and a part of the surface on the one axial side of the extending portion 70R. ing.

  The hook portion 74L on the other side is integrally provided with a base portion 76L and a claw portion 78L, and the base portion 76L is a long side on the other side facing the end edge portion on the long side portion 56R side of the extending portion 70L from the end edge portion. The claw portion 78L protrudes from the base portion 76L toward the longitudinal direction of the ball cage 46, that is, toward the other side of the guide rail 4 in the axial direction. The base portion 76L is formed to have the same thickness dimension as the thickness dimension of the extending portion 70L.

  The claw portion 78L is formed so as to protrude from the long side portion 56R side portion of the surface on the other axial side of the surface of the base portion 76L toward the other axial side. In other words, when the claw portion 78L is viewed in a cross section perpendicular to the thickness direction of the pair of long side portions 56R, 56L, the axial direction of the direction in which the plane formed by the pair of long side portions 56R, 56L extends. It protrudes toward the other side. Further, the claw portion 78L is formed in the same thickness dimension as the thickness dimension of the extending portion 70L. That is, the thickness dimension of the claw portion 78R is formed to be approximately the same as the thickness dimension of the ball cage 46.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the claw portion 78L has a surface 88L that faces the hook portion 74R, and a back surface 90L of the surface 88L across the thick portion of the claw portion 78L. The surface 90L extends in the thickness direction of the extending portion 70L perpendicular to the plane defined by the pair of long side portions 56R and 56L, and is formed in parallel with the long side portion 56L. The surface 88L extends in the thickness direction of the extending portion 70L perpendicularly to the plane defined by the pair of long side portions 56R and 56L, and the top end portion of the base portion 78L and the top portion of the claw portion 78L. It extends at a predetermined angle with respect to the pair of long side portions 56R and 56L so as to connect the side, that is, the other end side in the axial direction of the surface 90L. Further, a concave portion 92L is formed by the surface 90L of the claw portion 78L, the long side portion 56L side portion of the surface on the other axial side of the base portion 76L, and a part of the surface on the other axial side of the extending portion 70L. ing.

  As described above, the hook portion 74R on one side and the hook portion 74L on the other side are formed such that the directions of the claw portions 78R and 78L are opposite in the axial direction and the engaging surface extends in the thickness direction. ing. Hereinafter, regarding the claw portion 78R of the hook portion 74R on the one side, the surface on the side facing the claw portion 78L of the hook portion 74L on the other side is referred to as a first surface 88R, and the first portion sandwiching the thick portion of the claw portion 78R. The rear surface of the surface 88R, that is, the surface facing the long side portion 56R is defined as a second surface 90R. Similarly, for the claw portion 78L of the left hook portion 74L, the surface on the side facing the claw portion 78R of the one hook portion 74R is defined as the first surface 88L, and the first portion is sandwiched between the thick portions of the claw portion 78L. A surface on the back side of the surface 88L, that is, a surface facing the long side portion 56L is defined as a second surface 90L.

  Next, a method for loading the steel ball 7 into the bearing 10 or a method for removing the steel ball 7 from the bearing 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 5. The steel ball 7 is loaded by engaging the pair of hook portions 74R and 74L. 5A and 5B are bottom views of the bearing 10, wherein FIG. 5A shows a normal use state of the ball holder 46, and FIG. 5B shows a state where the hook portions 74R and 74L of the ball holder 46 are engaged with each other. Show.

  In the state where the ball cage 46 is assembled to the bearing 10, that is, in the state shown in FIG. 5A, the working holes 72R and 72L of the extending portions 70R and 70L of the ball cage 46 are provided with hole snap ring pliers or the like. Insert the tool. Then, the tool is operated to bring the work holes 72R and 72L closer to each other. Then, the pair of hook portions 74R and 74L begin to approach each other, and at the same time, the long side portions 56R and 56L of the ball cage 46 are pulled inwardly, and as shown in FIG. Elastically deforms into a trapped state.

  When the tool is operated to bring the work holes 72R and 72L closer to each other, the deformation of the long side portions 56R and 56L increases. When the first surfaces 88R and 88L facing each other of the claw portions 78R and 78L come into contact with each other, thereafter, the first surfaces 88R and 88L of the claw portions 78R and 78L slide to be different from each other. Start moving in the direction. That is, since the first surfaces 88R and 88L are inclined with respect to the pair of long side portions 56R and 56L, the first surface 88R of the claw portion 78R on one side is the other side in the axial direction (FIG. 5). The first surface 88L of the claw portion 78L on the other side moves toward one side in the axial direction (the direction indicated by the arrow F in FIG. 5A). Then, the extending portion 70R on one side and the base portion 76R of the hook portion 74R are elastically deformed so as to warp on the other side in the axial direction (the direction of the arrow R in FIG. 5A). Similarly, the left extension portion 70L and the base portion 76L of the hook portion 74L are elastically deformed so as to warp in one axial direction (the direction of arrow F in FIG. 5A). At the same time, the deformation of the long side portions 56R and 56L is further increased. In the state where the top portions of the claw portions 78R and 78L are in contact with each other, the deformation amounts of the extending portions 70R and 70L and the base portions 76R and 76L are maximized. Even if the hook portions 74R and 74L are elastically deformed in this way, the elastic deformation is deformation in the axial direction. Therefore, the hook portions 74R and 74L are located above the upper surface of the ball holder 46 or below the lower surface. A part of will not jump out.

  When the top portions of the claw portions 78R and 78L cross over the top portions of the other claw portions 78L and 78R, the one claw portion 78R is now on one side in the axial direction and the other claw portion 78L is on the other side in the axial direction. Move towards each other. At the same time, the extending portions 70R and 70L and the base portions 76R and 76L are deformed so as to return to their original shapes. Then, the second surface 90R of the claw portion 78R is caught by the second surface 90L of the claw portion 78L on the other side. Similarly, the second surface 90L of the claw portion 78L is caught by the second surface 90R of the one claw portion 78R.

  In this way, as shown in FIG. 5B, the second surfaces 90R and 90L of the claw portions 78R and 78L are hooked on the second surfaces 90L and 90R of the opposing hook portions 74L and 74R. The pair of hook portions 74R and 74L are engaged with each other by this catching. At this time, the first surface 88R of the claw portion 78R is in contact with the other surface in the axial direction of the extending portion 70L that forms the recess 92L, and the top portion of the claw portion 78R is the axial direction of the base portion 76L that forms the recess 92L. It is in contact with the other surface. Similarly, the first surface 88L of the claw portion 78L is in contact with the surface on one side in the axial direction of the extending portion 70R that forms the recess 92R, and the top portion of the claw portion 78L is in the axial direction of the base portion 76R that forms the recess 92R. It is in contact with one side. In other words, the claw portion 78R is fitted into the recess 92L, the claw portion 78L is fitted into the recess 92R, and the hook portions 74R and 74L are engaged. When the hook portions 74R and 74L are engaged with each other, the elastic deformation in the axial direction of each of the extending portions 70R and 70L and the base portions 76R and 76L returns to the original shape.

  When the hook portions 74R and 74L are engaged with each other, the tool is removed from the work holes 72R and 72L. Even when the tool is removed from the work holes 72R and 72L, the long sides 56R and 56L of the ball holder 46 are elastically deformed to be bent like a bow as shown in FIG. 5B. In this embodiment, the thickness dimension of each hook part 74R, 74L is substantially the same as the thickness dimension of the ball cage 46 as described above. Specifically, the size is substantially the same as the maximum thickness of the pair of long side portions 56R and 56L of the ball cage 46. Therefore, each hook part 74R, 74L has its own strength.

  Since the long side portions 56R and 56L are elastically deformed by the engagement of the hook portions 74R and 74L, they attempt to return to the original shape. For this reason, a force in a direction in which the pair of hook portions 74R and 74L are separated from each other is applied. However, in this embodiment, even when such a force is applied, the hook portions 74R and 74L have high strength as described above, so that the hook portions 74R and 74L are deformed so as to be disengaged. There is no, and they are firmly engaged with each other. Therefore, the engagement cannot be easily removed.

  When the hook portions 74R and 74L are engaged with each other and the long side portions 56R and 56L are deformed inwardly in a bow shape, the lower edges 64R of the ball holding grooves 60R and 60L are formed at the central portions of the long side portions 56R and 56L. The gap between 64L and the lower edges 66, 66 of the upper rolling groove 34 formed in the legs 25a, 25b of the bearing body 19 is wider than the gap L shown in FIG. The width is wider than the diameter of the sphere 7. And since the hook parts 74R and 74L are maintaining the engagement state firmly, this wide width is maintained. Therefore, the operator can easily load the steel ball 7 into the bearing 10 from the wide gap. Further, when the steel ball 7 is replaced, the steel ball 7 can be easily taken out from the bearing 10. Even if a hand, a tool, or a steel ball collides during the operation, the hook portions 74R and 74L are unlikely to be disengaged. As a result, the work of loading or unloading the steel balls 7 can be performed safely with good workability. After the work is completed, the tool is inserted into the work holes 72R and 72L and operated, and the hook portions 74R and 74L are disengaged. The actual loading or unloading operation of the steel ball 7 is performed with the bearing 10 upside down, that is, with the state shown in FIG.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide the ball cage 46 in which the hook portions 74R and 74L of the hook portions 74R and 74L are not easily separated from each other, and the linear guide device 1 including the ball cage 46. . In addition, the thickness dimension of each hook part 74R and 74L can be made into the same thickness dimension as the thickness dimension of the ball holder 46 at the maximum. In the present embodiment, the maximum thickness dimension of the pair of long side portions 56R and 56L is the thickness dimension of the ball cage 46 itself. However, the thickness dimension of the pair of short side portions 58a and 58b is greater. When larger than the long side portions 56R and 56L, the thickness dimension of the pair of short side portions 58a and 58b is the thickness dimension of the ball cage 46 itself. In this case, the thickness dimension of each hook part 74R and 74L can be enlarged to the same dimension as the thickness dimension of a pair of short side part 58a, 58b at maximum.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Linear motion guide apparatus 4 Guide rail 7 Steel ball 10 Bearing 13 Recess 16, 16 Rolling groove 19 (of guide rail) Rolling body 19a, 22b End cap 25a, 25b Leg 28 (Bearing) Body part 31a, 31b Side seals 34, 35 Rolling groove 37 (bearing) Rolling path 40, 41 Straight path 43 Circulating path 46 Ball cage, frame type retainer 48 Locking portion 50 Recess 52 Rod type ball cage 56R, 56L Long side Parts 58a, 58b Short side portions 60R, 60L Ball holding groove 62 Upper edge of ball holding groove 64 Lower edge 66 of ball holding groove Lower edge 68R, 68L of upper holding groove Flat plate portion 70R, 70L Extension portions 72R, 72L Working holes 74R, 74L Hook portions 76R, 76L Base portions 78R, 78L Claw portions 88R, 88L First surfaces 90R, 90L First Surface 92R, 92L recess

Claims (5)

A guide rail,
A bearing arranged on the guide rail so as to be movable in the axial direction of the guide rail via a plurality of balls;
The surface of the bearing facing the guide rail is used in a linear guide device in which a plurality of rolling grooves for rolling the plurality of balls are formed,
It has a frame shape having a pair of opposed long sides, each of the pair of long sides is formed with a ball holding groove facing the rolling groove, and each of the long sides is opposed Hooks projecting toward the long side are provided, and hooks that can be hooked with each other are formed on the hooks, and the hooks are spaced from each other with a gap between them. From the opposed state, it is possible to change to an engaged state in which the respective claw portions are hooked to each other, and in the engaged state, the pair of long side portions are respectively deformed and the deformed state is maintained. In the ball cage that
Each of the hook portions has a thickness dimension equivalent to the thickness dimension of the frame shape, and each claw portion has the pair of long side portions in a cross section perpendicular to the thickness direction of the frame shape. A ball cage characterized by projecting in a direction in which planes formed by the two extend and can be engaged with each other.   2. The ball cage according to claim 1, wherein the directions in which the claw portions protrude are one side and the other side in a longitudinal direction of the frame shape.   Each of the hook portions is in the engaged state after elastically deforming in a direction in which a plane formed by the pair of long side portions extends when the hook portion is brought into the engaged state from the mutually opposed state. The ball holder according to claim 1 or 2.   Each of the long side portions is formed with an extending portion extending toward the long side portion facing the long side portion, and each of the hook portions is formed on the extending portion, and in the engaged state, 4. The ball cage according to claim 1, wherein each of the claw portions is in contact with the other extension portion.   A linear guide device comprising the ball holder according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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