JP2014163411A - Lubricant supply mechanism for linear guide, linear guide including the same, and lubricant supply method for linear guide - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lubricant supply mechanism for a linear guide, a linear guide including the same, and a method of supplying a lubricant to a linear guide, capable of sufficiently supplying the lubricant to necessary parts of a rolling element and a rolling passage even when a guide rail and a bearing are relatively moved in a short distance (stroke), or a mounting attitude excluding horizontal one is taken.SOLUTION: In a lubricant supply mechanism for a linear guide including an injection port for injecting a lubricant into a bearing disposed over a guide rail, and a discharge port 16 communicated with the injection port for discharging the lubricant, the discharge port 16 is formed on a rolling groove 116 facing the guide rail of a bearing body 14 constituting the bearing, or in the vicinity thereof.

Description

  The present invention relates to a linear guide lubricant supply mechanism, a linear guide including the same, and a linear guide lubricant supply method.

  A linear guide is conventionally known as a linear motion guide device that supports an object that moves linearly in a conveying device, a semiconductor manufacturing device, or the like with low friction. Examples of the linear guide include the following. In other words, the linear guide is composed of a guide rail and a bearing that can be moved relative to the longitudinal direction of the guide rail across the guide rail, and the bearing is the bearing body and both ends that are the leading or trailing ends when the bearing is moved. An end cap is provided at the center, and a large number of rolling elements such as balls circulate in the bearing while rolling on the rolling path between the guide rail and the bearing so that the guide rail and the bearing can move smoothly. It realizes movement.

  In such a linear guide, a lubricant is used for the rolling elements and the rolling path, and as a mechanism for supplying the lubricant, a lubricant supply hole for supplying the lubricant to the end cap is provided. There is one in which an oil supply path of a lubricant is communicated to a rolling path of a rolling element passing through (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2010-190363 A

  However, in such a linear guide, when the relative movement between the guide rail and the bearing is performed within a short distance (stroke), the rolling elements that pass through the end cap are limited, and the rolling elements and the rolling elements There is a problem that lubrication failure occurs because sufficient lubricant is not supplied to the entire road. In addition, since the supplied lubricant is easily transmitted downward due to gravity, when the linear guide is installed in a posture other than horizontal, the rolling element and the rolling path are located above the end of the oil supply path for discharging the lubricant. In addition, there is a problem that the lubricant is difficult to be supplied to the rolling elements and the rolling path that are located at the same height as the end of the oil supply path.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and the purpose thereof is when the relative movement between the guide rail and the bearing is performed within a short distance (stroke) or when the mounting posture is other than horizontal. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a linear guide lubricant supply mechanism capable of supplying sufficient lubricant to the entire rolling elements and rolling paths, a linear guide including the linear guide, and a near guide lubricant supply method. .

In order to solve the above-described problems, a linear guide lubricant supply mechanism according to an aspect of the present invention includes an inlet for injecting lubricant into a bearing provided across a guide rail, and a communication with the inlet. And a lubricant supply mechanism for a linear guide comprising a discharge port for discharging the lubricant, wherein the discharge port is formed in a bearing body constituting the bearing, and is a rolling groove facing the guide rail or It is characterized by being provided in the vicinity thereof.
In this linear guide lubricant supply mechanism, the rolling groove has a non-contact portion rolling with the rolling element, and the discharge port is provided in a non-contact portion with the rolling member. It is preferable.

In the linear guide lubricant supply mechanism, it is preferable that the injection port is provided in the bearing body.
In the linear guide lubricant supply mechanism, it is more preferable that the discharge port is provided in the vicinity of a central portion in the longitudinal direction of the rolling groove.
In the linear guide lubricant supply mechanism, it is more preferable that a plurality of the inlets are provided.
In the linear guide lubricant supply mechanism, the discharge port is preferably provided above the rolling groove.
In this lubricant guide supply mechanism for linear guide, it is preferable that a sealing device is provided between the bearing body and the guide rail.

  In order to solve the above problems, a linear guide according to an aspect of the present invention includes a guide rail provided with a guide rail-side rolling groove on a side portion extending in the axial direction, and a bearing that moves on the guide rail. The bearing has an exposed bearing-side rolling groove facing the guide rail-side rolling groove, and a circulation path formed inside and substantially parallel to the bearing-side rolling groove. Bearing body integrally formed across the guide rail, and fixed to both ends of the bearing body in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail, and the end of the bearing side rolling groove and the circulation path An end cap formed with a curved path communicating with the end, and the bearing is accommodated in a rolling path formed between the guide rail side rolling groove and the bearing side rolling groove. Through the rolling of multiple rolling elements In the linear guide which is movably supported with said guide rail in the axial direction, it is characterized by comprising the linear guide lubricant supply mechanism.

  In addition, in order to solve the above-described problem, a linear guide lubricant supply method according to an aspect of the present invention includes an injection port for injecting a lubricant into a bearing provided across a guide rail, and the injection port. In the linear guide lubricant supply method, the discharge port is provided with a discharge port that communicates with the discharge port, and discharges the lubricant from the discharge port. Is provided on a rolling body facing the guide rail or in the vicinity thereof, and a linear guide lubricant supply method is provided.

In this linear guide lubricant supply method, it is preferable that the rolling groove is provided with a portion that does not contact the rolling element that rolls in the rolling groove, and the discharge port is provided at a portion that does not contact the rolling element.
In this linear guide lubricant supply method, it is preferable that the inlet is provided in the bearing body.
Moreover, in this linear guide lubricant supply method, it is more preferable that the discharge port is provided in the vicinity of the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the rolling groove.
Furthermore, in this linear guide lubricant supply method, it is preferable to provide a plurality of injection ports.
In this linear guide lubricant supply method, it is preferable that the discharge port is provided above the rolling groove.
In this linear guide lubricant supply method, it is preferable that a sealing device is provided between the bearing body and the guide rail.

  According to the present invention, even when the relative movement between the guide rail and the bearing is performed within a short distance (stroke) or when the mounting posture is other than horizontal, it is sufficient for the entire rolling element and the rolling path. It is possible to provide a linear guide lubricant supply mechanism capable of supplying a lubricant, a linear guide including the linear guide, and a method of supplying the lubricant to the linear guide.

It is the perspective view which notched some linear guides which can apply this invention. It is a top view of the linear guide provided with the lubricant supply mechanism for linear guides concerning embodiment of this invention, and Fig.2 (a) was equipped with the lubricant supply mechanism for linear guides concerning 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2B is a plan view of the linear guide provided with the linear guide lubricant supply mechanism according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2C is the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2D is a plan view of the linear guide provided with the linear guide lubricant supply mechanism according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. . The linear guide provided with the lubricant supply mechanism for linear guides concerning 1st Embodiment of this invention is shown, Fig.3 (a) is sectional drawing which follows the AA line in Fig.2 (a), FIG.3 (b). FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view around a rolling path in FIG. FIG. 4A shows a linear guide provided with a linear guide lubricant supply mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4A is a linear guide provided with a linear guide lubricant supply mechanism according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 2B, and FIG. 4B is a linear guide provided with a linear guide lubricant supply mechanism according to the third embodiment of the present invention. 2 (c) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC, and FIG. 4 (c) is a linear guide provided with a linear guide lubricant supply mechanism according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which follows the DD line | wire in FIG. It is a fragmentary sectional view of the linear guide provided with the lubricant supply mechanism for linear guides concerning 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is a fragmentary sectional view of the linear guide provided with the lubricant supply mechanism for linear guides concerning 6th Embodiment of this invention. It is a fragmentary sectional view of the linear guide provided with the lubricant supply mechanism for linear guides concerning 7th Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 8A shows a linear guide provided with a linear guide lubricant supply mechanism according to a reference example, and FIG. 8A is a plan view of the linear guide provided with a linear guide lubricant supply mechanism according to a reference example. FIG. These are sectional drawings which follow the XX line in Drawing 8 (a). FIG. 9A is a schematic diagram showing the amount of movement of the bearing and the amount of movement of the rolling element associated therewith, FIG. 9A is a schematic diagram showing a state before the bearing is moved, and FIG. FIG. 9C is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which the bearing has moved a distance twice as long as the rolling path. It is a fragmentary sectional view of the linear guide provided with the lubricant supply mechanism for linear guides concerning the modification of 3rd Embodiment of this invention. Fig.11 (a) is a fragmentary sectional view of the linear guide provided with the lubricant supply mechanism for linear guides concerning the 1st modification of 4th Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 11B is a partial cross-sectional view of a linear guide including a linear guide lubricant supply mechanism according to a second modification of the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

First, an example of a linear guide to which the present invention can be applied and a reference example of a lubricant supply mechanism for the linear guide will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 8, and 9 attached.
FIG. 1 shows an example of a linear guide to which the present invention can be applied in a partially cutaway perspective view. The linear guide 1 includes a linear guide rail 2 and a bearing 3 provided so as to be capable of relative movement in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail 2 across the guide rail 2. The guide rail 2 is made of metal and has a substantially quadrangular prism shape, has a guide rail mounting hole 9 penetrating vertically, and has a substantially arc-shaped rolling groove for rolling the ball (rolling element) 7. 72 at the upper and middle portions of both side surfaces. An escape groove 17 is formed inside the rolling groove 72 provided in the center.
The bearing 3 is made of a metal bearing body 4, a resin end cap 5 that is detachably fixed at both ends of the head or tail when the bearing is moved, and a resin end screw that is screwed to the outside. It comprises a side seal 8 and a grease nipple 79 screwed into a female thread portion penetrating from the side seal 8 to the end cap 5. The bearing body 4 is formed of a horizontal plate portion 18 and a pair of leg portions 71 extending downward from the lower surface so as to straddle the guide rail 2. A total of four rolling grooves 116 (see FIG. 3) are formed on the surface of the horizontal plate portion 18 and the leg portion 71 facing the guide rail 2 in parallel with the rolling groove 72 formed in the guide rail 2. Has been. The rolling groove 116 constitutes a rolling path 73 along with the rolling groove 72 of the guide rail 2 along which the rolling element rolls. Both ends of the rolling path 73 are connected to a linear circulation path 75 parallel to the guide rail 2 formed inside the bearing 3 by an arcuate curved path 74 formed inside the end cap 5. . The rolling path 73, the curved path 74, and the circulation path 75 as a whole form an annular path 6. The lower rolling path 73 is provided with a cage 77 that prevents the balls from falling off. A total of four annular paths 6 are provided on both sides of the guide rail 2 in the vertical direction, and a large number of balls 7 are accommodated in the annular path 6 so as to allow rolling. In the end cap 5, a lubricant supply path 78 is formed from the grease nipple 79 to the curved path 74 in the end cap 5. A seal lip 76 having a shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the guide rail 2 is formed on the side seal 8.

Of the many balls 7 accommodated in the annular path 6, the ball 7 positioned on the rolling path 73 on the guide rail 2 side supports the bearing 3 and rolls when the guide rail 2 and the bearing 3 move relative to each other. Thus, smooth relative movement between the guide rail 2 and the bearing 3 is realized. These balls 7 eventually enter the end cap 5 and are pushed by the succeeding balls 7 so that they are reversed by the curved path 74 inside the end cap 5, pass through the circulation path 75 inside the bearing body 4, and end on the opposite side. Circulation is performed by entering the cap 5, reversing again by the curved path 74 inside the end cap 5 and returning to the rolling path 73 on the guide rail 2 side.
In such a linear guide 1, a lubricant is applied to the ball 7 and the rolling path 73 for the purpose of preventing wear and seizure, extending the rolling fatigue life due to stress relaxation of the rolling surface, and preventing rust. To form an oil film. In order to show an example of supplying the lubricant, FIG. 8 shows a linear guide 50 including a linear guide lubricant supply mechanism according to a reference example. FIG. 8A is a plan view of the linear guide 50, and FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG.

The supply of the lubricant to the linear guide 50 is generally performed by injecting the lubricant from a grease nipple 59 provided on the end cap 55 with a grease gun (not shown) or the like. The lubricant injected into the grease nipple 59 is supplied to the curved path in the end cap 55 through the supply path in the end cap 55. As a result, a lubricant oil film is formed on the ball rolling on the curved path in the end cap 55, and the lubricant film is also formed on the surface of the rolling path as the ball 57 circulates in the annular path. .
However, when the relative movement between the guide rail 52 and the bearing 53 is performed within a short distance (stroke), the distance that the ball (rolling element) 57 rolls is shortened, and the lubricant in the end cap 55 is supplied. A ball 57 that reciprocates only in the curved path and the vicinity thereof, and a ball 57 that reciprocates only in the rolling path not supplied with the lubricant are generated.

  This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the amount of movement of the bearing 63 and the amount of movement of the ball 67 associated therewith. FIG. 9 shows how the bearing 63 moves on the guide rail 62 in a fixed state. The ball 67 is accommodated in the annular path 60, and the annular path 60 is formed of a rolling path 61, a curved path 64, and a circulation path 65, and the length of the rolling path 61 is L. FIG. 9A shows a state in which the bearing 63 has not moved, and a state in which the bearing 63 has been moved to the right by a distance equal to the length L of the rolling path 61 from FIG. FIG. 9C shows a state shown in FIG. 9B and further moved from there by the same distance as the length L of the rolling path 61. FIG.

  In FIG. 9A, the ball 67 arranged at the head in the traveling direction of the rolling path 61 is blacked out. When attention is paid to the black-painted ball 67, when the bearing 63 is not moved (a) and moved to the state (b) by moving the same distance as the length L of the rolling path 61, the black-painted ball 67 is concerned. Is moving a distance of half the length L of the rolling path 61 in the same direction as the bearing 63 moves. This is because, in a relative relationship with the bearing 63, the black-painted ball 67 has moved a distance half the length L of the rolling path 61 in the direction opposite to the direction in which the bearing 63 moves. . When the bearing 63 is further moved by the same distance as the length L of the rolling path 61 to the state (c), the black-painted ball 67 is the same distance as the length L of the rolling path 61 from the state (a). In the relative relationship with the bearing 63, the distance from the state (a) is the same as the length L of the rolling path 61 in the opposite direction to the movement of the bearing. Has moved to the tail.

When the bearing 63 moves only within a distance twice the length L of the rolling path 61, that is, when the bearing 63 reciprocates between the position (a) and the position (c), it is painted black. The entire ball 67 does not enter the curved path 64 in the end cap supplied with the lubricant. Thereby, the formation of an oil film on the surface of the ball 67 tends to be insufficient.
However, even in this case, in FIG. 9, when attention is paid to the ball 67 with the diagonal line on the right side of the bearing 63 drawn, the ball 67 is accommodated in the curved path 64 to which the lubricant in the end cap is supplied in the state (a). The ball 67 that has been moved moves beyond the center of the rolling path 61 in the state (c), and the same occurs on the left side of the bearing 63 when the ball 67 moves from the state (c) to the state (a). Therefore, the rolling path 61 is entirely coated by these balls 67.

  However, if the bearing 63 moves only within the same distance as the length L of the rolling path 61, that is, the bearing 63 reciprocates between the positions (a) and (b). The slanted ball 67 does not reach the center of the rolling path 61. Accordingly, the lubricant is insufficient in the central portion of the rolling path 61. As described above, as the distance (stroke) of the relative movement between the bearing 63 and the guide shaft 62 becomes shorter, the lubricant is less likely to reach the entire rolling path 61.

  In addition, the circulation path 65 formed inside the bearing 63 among the annular paths 60 has a cylindrical shape surrounded by the bearing 63, so that there is little loss of lubricant and no large load is applied. Therefore, it is difficult to cause a lubrication failure. On the other hand, the rolling path 61 on the guide rail 62 side is composed of a rolling groove on the guide rail 62 side, a rolling groove on the bearing body side and a cage, and has a lot of gaps. Further, since a large load is applied to support the bearing, lubrication failure is likely to occur.

(Reference example)
In the reference example shown in FIG. 8, in order to prevent such a lubrication failure, the grease nipple 51 is also provided on the side surface of the center portion of the bearing body 54 in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction in FIG. 8A). As shown in FIG. 8B, a lubricant supply path is formed from the grease nipple 51 to a position facing the upper surface of the guide rail 2, and the discharge port 56 is configured. The lubricant supply path includes a first supply path 511 extending in the horizontal direction from one side surface of the center portion in the longitudinal direction of the bearing body 54 to a substantially central portion in the width direction (left-right direction in FIG. 8B), and A second supply 512 extending vertically downward from the first supply path 511 to a position facing the upper surface of the guide rail 2, and a female threaded portion 517 into which the grease nipple 51 is screwed is formed at the widthwise end of the first supply path 51. In addition, a discharge port 56 is formed at the lower end in the vertical direction of the second supply path 512. In the cross-sectional view, the ball 57 is indicated by a broken line and the grease nipple 51 and the rail 52 are not shown, but the grease nipple 51 is screwed into the female screw portion 517.
Here, the lubricant includes lubricant oil and grease. Examples of the lubricant include mineral oil, diester oil, polyvalent ester oil, silicone oil, fluorine oil, and synthetic carbonized oil. Examples of the grease include calcium soap grease, lithium soap grease, aluminum complex grease, lithium complex grease, urea grease, bentonite grease, and the like.

  According to such a configuration, the lubricant supplied from the discharge port 56 reaches the center of the rolling path from the upper part of the guide rail 52 along the surface of the guide rail 52 by gravity. However, the supply of the lubricant only to the upper surface of the guide rail 52 is sure to supply the linear guide 50 to the central portion of the rolling path by gravity when the mounting posture of the linear guide 50 is vertical, wall-mounted or the like other than horizontal. Poor sex. Therefore, the linear guide lubricant supply mechanism according to the first embodiment is configured as follows.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 2A is a plan view of the linear guide 10 provided with the lubricant supply mechanism according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and a cross-sectional view taken along line AA is shown in FIG. . Although illustration of the grease nipple 11 is omitted also in FIG. 3A, the grease nipple 11 is screwed into the female screw portion 117.

  In the first embodiment, instead of supplying the injected lubricant to the upper surface of the guide rail 12, the lubricant supply paths 111, 112, and 113 are communicated to the rolling groove 116, thereby providing the lubricant. Is directly supplied to the rolling groove 116. More specifically, the lubricant supply path extends from one side surface in the width direction (left-right direction in FIG. 3A) in the longitudinal direction of the bearing body 14 (left-right direction in FIG. 2A) and in the width direction. A first supply path 111 extending in the horizontal direction to reach the other side surface, and a pair of second supply paths 112 extending vertically downward from a position straddling the guide rail 12 near both sides in the width direction of the first supply path 111 And third supply passages 113 extending obliquely downward from both side surfaces of the bearing body 14 to the respective rolling grooves 116 so as to intersect the respective second supply passages 112. A pair of female screw portions 117 into which the pair of grease nipples 11 are screwed are formed at both ends in the width direction of the first supply path 111, and the discharge port 16 is formed at the outlet of the third supply path 113. . As a result, the lubricant can be reliably supplied to the center of the rolling path, and the ball (rolling element) and the entire rolling path can be used even when the mounting posture of the linear guide 10 is other than horizontal. It becomes easy to supply the lubricant. In the first embodiment, the lubricant inlet is not limited to the grease nipple 11, but may be a grease cup or the like that can inject lubricant and prevent leakage.

  The 1st supply path 111, the 2nd supply path 112, and the 3rd supply path 113 can be easily formed by making a hole from the outer peripheral surface of the bearing main body 14 using a drill. The diameter of the supply path is gradually reduced from the first supply path 111 on the inlet side toward the second supply path 112, the third supply path 113, and the discharge port 16 side. Thereby, the injected lubricant can be stored and a necessary amount can be supplied to the rolling groove 116. The diameter of the supply path is preferably set as appropriate according to the viscosity of the lubricant. An unnecessary opening on the surface of the bearing body 14, specifically, a sealing plug 114 is provided in the third supply path 113, and a sealing plug 115 is provided in the opening from the upper surface of the bearing body 14 to the first supply path 111. Seal with a stopper to prevent foreign material and lubricant from leaking out. In the first embodiment, the supply path is not limited to this, and may be any path and any formation method as long as it communicates from the inlet to the outlet 16. For example, without providing the grease nipple 11 on the side surface of the bearing 13, a seal plug is provided at the opening at the end of the first supply path 111, and the lubricant injected from the grease nipple 19 provided in the end cap 15 is supplied first. A supply path extending in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail 12 may be provided so as to be sent to the path 111. Further, depending on the use of the linear guide, a female thread portion penetrating in the vertical direction is provided in the upper part of the first supply path 111 shown in FIG. 3A, and the grease nipple 11 is screwed there to end the first supply path 111. The opening of the part may be sealed.

In the first embodiment, the lubricant is supplied to the linear guide 10 from the grease nipple 19 provided in the end cap 15 by a grease gun (not shown) or the like. It may be added in addition to.
FIG. 3B shows an enlarged view near the discharge port 16. The cross section of the rolling groove 116 has a Gothic arc shape, and the discharge port 16 is provided in a portion of the rolling groove 116 that is not in contact with the ball (rolling body) 7. This prevents the discharge port 16 from affecting the smooth rolling of the ball (rolling element) 7. In the first embodiment, the rolling groove 116 is not limited to the Gothic arc shape, and even if it has an arc shape having a smaller curvature than the ball (rolling element), a relief groove is formed in such an arc shape or Gothic arc shape. It may be what you did.

  In the linear guide 10 according to the first embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, two stages of rolling paths are formed in the vertical direction, and a lubricant is provided in the lower rolling groove 116. However, the lubricant supplied to the upper rolling groove 116 is supplied to the lower rolling groove 116 along the bearing surface. The linear guide to which the present invention is applied is not limited to the upper and lower two stages, and may be one stage or three or more stages. Moreover, the rolling element may not be a ball, but may be, for example, a roller.

The linear guide 10 is also different from the reference example shown in FIG. 8A in that a pair of grease nipples 11 are provided opposite to each other on the side surface in the longitudinal direction of the bearing body 14.
Thereby, it becomes possible to inject a lubricant from either side, and since it becomes easy to inject the lubricant, it is possible to make it difficult to cause a lubrication failure. However, the present embodiment is not limited to this, and the grease nipple 11 may be provided at one location on one side of the bearing body 14 as in the reference example shown in FIG.

  The lubricant is supplied to the linear guide 10 by periodically injecting the lubricant from the grease nipple 11 using a grease gun or the like. If there are many injection locations, a pipe joint can be attached instead of the grease nipple 11 and regular injection can be performed from one location using a manual pump (not shown) or the like by centralized piping. The injected lubricant is discharged from the discharge port through the supply path, and the lubricant is adapted by running-in, and an oil film is formed on the rolling path and the rolling elements.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 (b) and 4 (a). FIG. 2B is a plan view of the linear guide provided with the linear guide lubricant supply mechanism according to the second embodiment. FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG.
In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), three grease nipples 21 are provided on one side in the width direction of the bearin body 24 constituting the bearing 23, and supply paths corresponding to the grease nipples 21 are provided. Yes. Each supply path includes a first supply path 211 extending in the horizontal direction from one side surface of the bearing body 24 in the width direction (left and right direction in FIG. 4A) to the vicinity of the other side surface in the width direction, and the first supply path 211. A pair of second supply paths 212 that extend vertically downward from a position straddling the guide rails 22 in the vicinity of both sides in the width direction and intersect each second supply path 212 from both sides in the width direction of the bearing body 24. And a third supply path 213 extending obliquely downward to reach each rolling groove 216. A female screw portion 217 into which the grease nipple 21 is screwed is formed at one end in the width direction of the first supply passage 211, and a discharge port 26 is formed at the outlet of the third supply passage 213. By providing three grease nipples 21 on one side in the width direction of the bearin main body 24 constituting such a bearing 23, the stroke between the guide rail 22 and the bearing 23 is compared with the case where the grease nipple is provided at one place. Even when is shorter, the lubricant can be spread over the entire rolling path. Further, even when the mounting posture of the linear guide 20 is other than horizontal, it becomes easy to supply the lubricant to the entire rolling element 7 and the rolling path.

In this way, even when the grease nipple 21 is not provided on both sides in the width direction of the bearing 23, as shown in FIG. 4A, the grease nipple 21 communicates with the rolling paths on both sides straddling the guide rail 22. By providing the supply path, it is possible to supply the lubricant directly to the rolling paths on both sides. The lubricant is supplied using a grease gun, a manual pump or the like as in the first embodiment.
In the second embodiment, the lubricant is supplied to the linear guide 20 from the grease nipple 29 provided on the end cap 25 by a grease gun (not shown) or the like as described above. It may be added in addition to.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 (c) and 4 (b). FIG.2 (c) is a top view of the linear guide provided with the lubricant supply mechanism for linear guides concerning 3rd Embodiment of this invention. FIG.4 (b) is sectional drawing which follows the CC line in FIG.2 (c).
In the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2C, the grease nipple 31 and the bearing 33 are provided on one side in the width direction of the bearing body 34 and on two other sides in the width direction of the bearing body 34. , Supply paths corresponding to each of them are provided. Each supply path includes a first supply path 311 extending in the horizontal direction from one side surface of the bearing body 34 in the width direction (left and right direction in FIG. 4B) to the vicinity of the other side surface in the width direction, and the first supply path 311. A pair of second supply passages 312 extending vertically downward from a position straddling the guide rails 32 in the vicinity of both sides in the width direction, and intersecting each second supply passage 312 from both sides in the width direction of the bearing body 34. And a third supply passage 313 extending obliquely downward to reach the surface facing the guide rail 32. An internal thread portion 317 into which the grease nipple 31 is screwed is formed at one end in the width direction of the first supply passage 311, and a discharge port 36 is formed at the outlet of the third supply passage 313.

  In the present invention, a different number of inlets such as grease nipples may be provided on both sides in the width direction of the bearing body 34 as described above. Even in such a configuration, it is possible to reliably supply the lubricant to the center of the rolling path, and even if the mounting posture of the linear guide 30 is other than horizontal, the rolling elements and the rolling path It becomes easy to supply the lubricant to the whole. In the present invention, some of the inlets such as grease nipples may be arranged at opposing positions, and the other inlets of the grease nipples may be arranged at positions not opposing each other.

In the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4B, unlike the first and second embodiments, the discharge port 36 is provided outside the rolling groove 316. For this reason, the lubricant is supplied to the rolling groove 316 along the surface of the bearing body 34. According to this, as compared with the case where the discharge port 36 is provided in the rolling groove 316, the influence on the rolling of the ball (rolling body) due to the discharge port 36 can be reliably eliminated. The lubricant is supplied using a grease gun, a manual pump or the like as in the first embodiment.
In the third embodiment, the lubricant is supplied to the linear guide 30 from the grease nipple 39 provided on the end cap 35 by a grease gun (not shown) or the like as described above. It may be added in addition to.
In the modification of the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, an inner seal (sealing device) is provided between the bearing body 32 and the guide rail 2 so that the lubricant does not leak to the upper surface of the guide rail 2. ) 320 is provided. As a result, the lubricant can be prevented from spreading on the upper surface of the guide rail 2. Further, the slider discharge port 36 is provided on the rolling groove 316, and the lubricant is supplied from the discharge port 36 to the ball (rolling body) 7, and the lubricant is supplied to the rolling groove 316 along the surface of the bearing body 34. May be. Thereby, the lubricant can be reliably supplied to the ball (rolling element) 7.

(Fourth embodiment)
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 (d) and 4 (c). FIG.2 (d) is a top view of the linear guide provided with the linear guide lubricant supply mechanism based on 4th Embodiment of this invention. FIG.4 (c) is sectional drawing which follows the DD line | wire in FIG.2 (d).
In the fourth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2 (d), the bearing main body 44 constituting the bearing 43 provided with the grease nipple 41 is arranged at three opposing positions on both sides in the width direction, A supply path corresponding to each of them is provided. Each supply path includes a first supply path 411 extending in a horizontal direction from one side surface to the other side surface in the width direction of the bearing main body 44 in the width direction (left-right direction in FIG. 4C), and the width of the first supply path 411. A pair of second supply passages 412 extending vertically downward from a position straddling the guide rails 42 in the vicinity of both sides in the direction, and crossing the second supply passages 412 from both sides in the width direction of the bearing body 44. And a third supply path 413 extending obliquely downward to reach each rolling groove 416. A pair of female screw portions 417 into which a pair of grease nipples 41 are screwed are formed at both ends in the width direction of the first supply passage 411, and a discharge port 46 is formed at the outlet of the third supply passage 413. . In the present invention, a plurality of inlets such as grease nipples facing the both sides in the width direction of the bearing main body 44 can be arranged as described above. According to this, it becomes possible to inject the lubricant from both sides, and even when the stroke is shorter or the mounting posture of the linear guide 40 is other than horizontal, the ball (rolling element) and the rolling path It becomes easy to supply the lubricant to the whole. In the present invention, the number of inlets such as grease nipples on one side can be four or more according to the stroke and the length of the bearing 43 in the relative movement direction.

In the fourth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4C, the third supply path 413 is provided in two stages in the vertical direction, and the discharge port 46 is provided in each of the two upper and lower rolling grooves 416. As a result, the lubricant can be directly supplied to all the rolling grooves 416. In the present invention, as shown in the third embodiment, the discharge port 46 can be provided in the vicinity of the rolling groove 416, but a plurality of such discharge ports 46 can be provided in the vertical direction. Furthermore, it is also possible to provide a combination of a discharge port that supplies the lubricant directly to the rolling groove 416 and a discharge port that supplies the lubricant near the rolling groove. The lubricant is supplied using a grease gun, a manual pump or the like as in the first embodiment.
In the fourth embodiment, the lubricant is supplied to the linear guide 40 from the grease nipple 49 provided on the end cap 45 by a grease gun (not shown) or the like as described above. It may be added in addition to.
Further, in the first modification of the fourth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11A, each supply path is formed from one side surface in the width direction of the bearing main body 44 (left-right direction in FIG. 11A). A first supply path 411 extending in the horizontal direction until reaching the other side surface, and a pair of second supply paths 412 extending vertically downward from a position straddling the guide rail 42 in the vicinity of both sides in the width direction of the first supply path 411. And third supply passages 413 extending diagonally downward from both side surfaces of the bearing body 44 to the respective rolling grooves 416 so as to intersect the respective second supply passages 412. The third supply path 413 is vertically divided into two stages, and the discharge port 46 is provided in each of the two upper and lower rolling grooves 416. The second supply path 412 branches to form a supply path 412a and a supply path 412b. The supply path 412a intersects with the third supply path 413 above. The supply path 412b intersects with the lower third supply path 413. Thereby, the lubricant can be evenly supplied to the upper and lower rolling grooves 416.
Furthermore, in the second modification of the fourth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11B, the third supply path 413 has three stages, upper, middle and lower, and is discharged into each of the upper and lower rolling grooves 416. An outlet 46 is provided. The direction of the second supply path 412 may be changed, and the middle and lower third supply paths 413 may intersect. Accordingly, it is possible to supply a large amount of lubricant from the lower supply path 413.

(1) (Fifth embodiment)
Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of a linear guide including a linear guide lubricant supply mechanism according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
The linear guide lubricant supply mechanism according to the fifth embodiment is basically the same as the linear guide lubricant supply mechanism according to the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 (a), 3 (a), and 3 (b). Although the same, the configuration of the third supply path 113 is different.

  That is, the third supply passages 113 that extend obliquely downward from the both sides of the bearing body 14 in the width direction to the respective rolling grooves 116 so as to intersect the second supply passages 112 are provided on both sides of the bearing body 14 in the width direction. A large-diameter portion 113a whose inner diameter extends from the surface to each second supply path 112 is φD1 and a small-diameter portion whose inner diameter extends from each second supply path 112 to each rolling groove 116 is φD2. Then, ΦD1> ΦD2 is set.

  Here, when processing the third supply path 113, drilling of the large-diameter portion 113 a of ΦD 1 is performed in advance with a drill or the like until it reaches the second supply paths 112 from both side surfaces in the width direction of the bearing body 14. Do. Thereafter, drilling of the small diameter portion 113b of ΦD2 is performed until the discharge port 16 is reached. Drilling the third supply passage 113 with a thick drill or the like, rather than drilling the third supply passage 113 with a thin drill or the like, until reaching the second supply passages 112 from both sides in the width direction of the bearing body 14 There is no risk that the thin drill will break during drilling. At this time, the depth to reach the discharge port 16 from each second supply path 112, that is, the depth of the small diameter portion 113b, until reaching each second supply path 112 from both side surfaces in the width direction of the bearing main body 14, That is, there is no possibility that a thin drill or the like is broken when the depth is smaller than the depth of the large-diameter portion 113a.

  Then, the third supply path 113 extends from both side surfaces in the width direction of the bearing body 14 to the respective second supply paths 112 and has a large diameter portion 113a having an inner diameter of φD1 and from each of the second supply paths 112 to each rolling groove 116. If it is configured to include a small-diameter portion whose inner diameter extends to φD2, the lubricant can easily reach the discharge port 16 as compared with the case where the inner diameter of the third supply path 113 is continuously made uniform.

(2) (Sixth embodiment)
Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of a linear guide including a linear guide lubricant supply mechanism according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.
The linear guide lubricant supply mechanism according to the sixth embodiment is basically the same as the linear guide lubricant supply mechanism according to the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 (a), 3 (a), and 3 (b). Although the same, the configuration of the third supply path 113 is different.
That is, the third supply passages 113 that extend obliquely downward from the both sides of the bearing body 14 in the width direction to the respective rolling grooves 116 so as to intersect the second supply passages 112 are provided on both sides of the bearing body 14 in the width direction. The inner diameter gradually decreases from the surface toward each rolling groove 116.

In this manner, by making the inner diameter of the third supply passage 113 progressively thinner, the drilling process can be performed in accordance with the shape of the drill having a tapered shape that is gradually tapered toward the tip. it can. In addition, since the base of the tapered drill that is gradually narrowed toward the tip is thick, there is no risk of breakage.
Then, the inner diameter of the third supply path 113 is continuously reduced to a uniform size by gradually reducing the inner diameter of the third supply path 113 from the both lateral sides of the bearing body 14 toward the rolling grooves 116. Compared with the case where it does, lubricant tends to reach the discharge port 16.

(3) (Seventh embodiment)
Next, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of a linear guide including a linear guide lubricant supply mechanism according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.
The linear guide lubricant supply mechanism according to the seventh embodiment is basically the same as the linear guide lubricant supply mechanism according to the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 (a), 3 (a), and 3 (b). Although the same, the arrangement of the third supply path 113 is different.
That is, the third supply path 113 extends from both side surfaces in the width direction of the bearing body 14 to the end surfaces between the upper and lower rolling grooves 116 so as to intersect the second supply paths 112. By comprising in this way, a lubricant can be uniformly supplied to the upper and lower rolling grooves 116.

  As described above, according to the present invention, even when the relative movement between the guide rail and the bearing is performed within a short distance (stroke) or when the mounting posture is other than horizontal, the rolling elements and the rolling path are provided. It is possible to provide a linear guide lubricant supply mechanism capable of supplying a sufficient amount of lubricant to the whole, a linear guide having the same, and a method of supplying the lubricant to the linear guide.

1, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 Linear guide 2, 12, 22, 32, 42, 52, 62 Guide rail 3, 13, 23, 33, 43, 53, 63 Bearing 4, 14, 24, 34, 44, 54 Bearing body 5, 15, 25, 35, 45, 55 End cap 6, 60 Annular path 7, 57, 67 Ball (rolling element)
8 Side seal 9 Guide rail mounting hole 11, 21, 31, 41, 51 Grease nipple (inlet)
16, 26, 36, 46, 56 Discharge port 17 Escape groove 18 Horizontal plate 19, 29, 39, 49, 59, 79 Grease nipple (end cap)
61, 73 Rolling path 64, 74 Curved path 65, 75 Circulating path 71 Leg 72 Rolling groove 76 Seal lip 77 Cage 78 Supply path (end cap)
111, 211, 311, 411, 511 First supply path 112, 212, 312, 412, 512 Second supply path 113, 213, 313, 413 Third supply path 114, 214, 314, 414 Seal plug (side surface)
115, 215, 315, 415 Seal plug (top)
116, 216, 316, 416 Rolling groove 117, 217, 317, 417, 517 Female thread part 320 Inner seal (sealing device)
L Rolling path length

Claims (15)

An inlet for injecting a lubricant into a bearing provided across the guide rail;
A discharge port communicating with the injection port and discharging the lubricant;
In a linear guide lubricant supply mechanism comprising:
The linear guide lubricant supply mechanism is characterized in that the discharge port is formed in a bearing main body constituting the bearing and provided in a rolling groove facing the guide rail or in the vicinity thereof. The rolling groove has a non-contact portion with a rolling element that rolls therein,
2. The linear guide lubricant supply mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the discharge port is provided in a portion not in contact with the rolling element. 3.   3. The linear guide lubricant supply mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the injection port is provided in the bearing body.   The linear guide lubricant supply mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the discharge port is provided in the vicinity of a central portion in a longitudinal direction of the rolling groove.   The linear guide lubricant supply mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a plurality of the injection ports are provided.   6. The linear guide lubricant supply mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the discharge port is provided on the rolling groove.   The linear guide lubricant supply mechanism according to claim 6, wherein a sealing device is provided between the bearing body and the guide rail. A guide rail provided with a guide rail side rolling groove on a side portion extending in the axial direction;
A bearing that moves on the guide rail,
The bearing has an exposed bearing-side rolling groove that is opposed to the guide rail-side rolling groove, and a circulation path that is formed substantially parallel to the bearing-side rolling groove and formed inside. A bearing body integrally formed across the guide rail;
An end cap that is fixed to both ends of the guide rail in the longitudinal direction of the bearing body and has a curved path that connects the end of the bearing-side rolling groove and the end of the circulation path;
The guide rail is movable in the axial direction via rolling of a plurality of rolling elements housed in a rolling path formed between the guide rail side rolling groove and the bearing side rolling groove. In the linear guide supported by
6. A linear guide comprising the linear guide lubricant supply mechanism according to claim 1. An inlet for injecting a lubricant into a bearing provided across the guide rail;
A discharge port that communicates with the injection port and discharges the lubricant; and
In the linear guide lubricant supply method of injecting the lubricant from the injection port and discharging the lubricant from the discharge port,
A method for supplying a lubricant for a linear guide, wherein the discharge port is formed in a bearing main body constituting the bearing and provided in a rolling groove facing the guide rail or in the vicinity thereof. The rolling groove is provided with a non-contact portion with a rolling element that rolls in the rolling groove,
The linear guide lubricant supply method according to claim 9, wherein the discharge port is provided in a portion not in contact with the rolling element.   The linear guide lubricant supply method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the injection port is provided in the bearing body.   The method for supplying a lubricant for linear guide according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the discharge port is provided in the vicinity of a central portion in a longitudinal direction of the rolling groove.   The linear guide lubricant supply method according to claim 9, wherein a plurality of the injection ports are provided.   The method of supplying a lubricant for linear guide according to any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the discharge port is provided on the rolling groove.   The linear guide lubricant supply method according to claim 14, wherein a sealing device is provided between the bearing body and the guide rail.

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