JP2015209919A - Linear motion guide device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a linear motion guide device having a superior roller holding characteristic attained by a cage and a superior scraping-up performance at a scraping-up part of an end cap without necessity for large formation of a clearance groove for a ball bearing cage.SOLUTION: A ball bearing cage 4 comprises a central linear segment 41 for holding rollers 3 and bent segments 42 at both ends fixed to a slider 2. An end cap 2B comprises a storing groove 21 for storing each of the bent segments 42 at a longitudinal outer portion of guide rail at a part opposing against a raceway surface of the guide rail. Further outside portion at the longitudinal direction of the storing groove 21 is provided with a fixed part 23 having an engaging hole 25a into which an extremity end of the second linear part 45 of each of the bent segments 42 is inserted. An inside portion in the longitudinal direction of the part opposing against the raceway surface of the guide rail of the end cap 2B is provided with an engaging part 29 engaging with a part of the central linear segment 41 in such a way that it may be protruded toward a guide rail side rather than from a surface of the slider main body 2A opposing against the guide rail.

Description

  The present invention relates to a linear motion guide device.

  Examples of conventional linear motion guide devices include the following. A slider is assembled on a guide rail having a substantially rectangular cross section extending in a straight line so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail. The slider has a recess and has a substantially U-shaped cross section. The slider is assembled to the guide rail so as to accommodate the upper portion of the guide rail in the recess. On both side surfaces of the guide rail, raceway surfaces are formed which are concave grooves having an arc-shaped cross section extending in the longitudinal direction. On the inner side surface of the slider (the inner surface of the concave portion) facing the side surface of the guide rail, the guide rail is provided. A raceway surface having an arcuate cross section facing the raceway surface is formed.

A rolling passage is formed between the raceway surface of the guide rail and the raceway surface of the slider so that a ball as a rolling element rolls, and the rolling passage extends in the longitudinal direction. A plurality of balls are slidably loaded in the rolling passage, and the slider moves in the longitudinal direction while being guided by the guide rail through the rolling of the plurality of balls in the rolling passage. It is possible.
The slider is composed of a slider body and end caps that are detachably attached to both ends of the slider body (both ends in the longitudinal direction, which can also be said to be both ends in the moving direction of the slider). The track surface of the slider is formed on the inner surface of the slider body. Further, the slider includes a return passage made of a straight hole penetrating in the longitudinal direction in parallel with the rolling passage inside the slider body.

On the other hand, a direction changing path that is curved in an arc shape is formed on the back surface of the end cap (the contact surface with the slider body). When this end cap is attached to the slider body, the rolling passage and the return passage are communicated with each other by the direction changing passage. The return path and the direction change paths at both ends constitute a rolling element conveyance path for conveying and circulating the ball from the end point of the rolling path to the starting point, and the rolling path and the rolling element conveyance path form a substantially annular circulation. A route is constructed.
When the slider assembled to the guide rail moves in the longitudinal direction along the guide rail, the ball loaded in the rolling path is the same as the slider with respect to the guide rail while rolling in the rolling path. Move in the direction. When the ball reaches the end point of the rolling passage, it is scooped up from the rolling passage by the scooping portion provided in the end cap and sent to the direction change path. The ball that has entered the direction change path makes a U-turn and is introduced into the return path, and reaches the opposite direction change path through the return path. Here, the U-turn is made again to return to the starting point of the rolling passage, and such circulation in the circulation path is repeated infinitely.

In such a linear motion guide device, since it is necessary to prevent the ball from falling off the slider before being assembled to the guide rail, a cage formed of wire is attached to the slider to hold the ball in the raceway surface. doing. When the slider is assembled to the guide rail while the ball is held by the cage, the cage is accommodated in a cage clearance groove formed at the groove bottom of the raceway surface of the guide rail.
Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose a linear motion guide device in which a mechanism for attaching a cage to a slider is provided in an end cap.

  In Patent Document 1, an attachment portion to which an end portion of a substantially rod-shaped cage is fixed on the inner side surfaces (the inner surfaces of the recesses) of both end caps is projected toward the raceway surface of the guide rail. This mounting portion is a convex portion in which the fitting hole into which the end portion of the cage is inserted is formed along the longitudinal direction, and the fitting holes of the mounting portion provided on both end caps form a pair, Each opening faces each other. In addition, a slit opening that opens toward the track surface of the guide rail and extends along the longitudinal direction is formed at the front end of the protrusion in the protruding direction. Then, by pushing the end portion of the cage into the fitting hole from the slit opening, the cage can be attached to the slider by both attachment portions.

  Moreover, in patent document 2, the mechanism for mounting | wearing a slider with a slider is provided in the vicinity part of the scooping part of an end cap. That is, the base of the scooping portion is provided with a fitting hole extending in the longitudinal direction, and an arc-shaped cage fitting groove that communicates with the fitting hole from the tip of the scooping portion is attached to the direction change path. ing. The cage includes a linear portion that holds the ball, a ball guide portion that includes arc portions at both ends of the linear portion, and an attachment portion that extends in parallel to the longitudinal direction from the end of the arc portion of the ball guide portion. However, the mounting portion is inserted into the fitting hole, and the ball guide portion is fitted into the cage fitting groove so that the cage is mounted on the slider.

Japanese Patent No. 3426733 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-27693

However, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, since the mounting portion protrudes toward the guide rail with respect to the cage, the cage clearance groove formed on the groove bottom of the raceway surface of the guide rail considers the mounting portion. Therefore, it has been necessary to make it one size larger than the cage. When the cage clearance groove is large, there is a possibility that the effective contact range between the rolling element and the raceway surface is reduced, and there is a possibility that the workability during the manufacture of the guide rail may be adversely affected.
In addition, since the cage is only fixed at both ends thereof by the attachment portions, there is a possibility that the holding property of the rolling element is low. When the diameter is increased in order to increase the rigidity of the cage for improving the retainability, it is necessary to enlarge the cage escape groove, and thus the same problem as described above may occur.

Furthermore, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2, since the cage fitting groove is provided in the scooping portion, there is a possibility that the scooping performance of the rolling element may be adversely affected. Further, depending on the quality of the cage and the end cap and assembly errors, the cage may come into contact with the rolling elements, and the circulation of the rolling elements may be hindered.
Therefore, the present invention solves the problems of the prior art as described above, eliminates the need to form a cage relief groove large, has excellent rolling element retention by the cage, and scoops up the scooping portion of the end cap. Is to provide an excellent linear motion guide device.

In order to solve the above-described problems, a linear motion guide device according to an aspect of the present invention includes a guide rail, a slider, and a plurality of rolling elements, and the guide rail and the slider are located at positions facing each other. Each of which has a raceway surface that forms a rolling passage of the rolling element, the both raceway surfaces extend in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail, and the rolling element is disposed in the rolling passage, Through the rolling of the rolling element, the slider is guided by the guide rail so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction, and the rolling element is dropped from the slider that is not assembled to the guide rail. In the linear motion guide device including the cage for preventing the slider, the slider has a slider body in which a raceway surface of the slider and a return passage of the rolling element including a through hole substantially parallel to the slider are formed, A direction changing path that communicates between the rolling path and the return path, and an end cap that is detachably fixed to both ends of the slider body in the longitudinal direction, the return path and the direction change The rolling element is conveyed and circulated from the end point of the rolling path to the starting point on a path, and the cage is formed by bending both ends of a linear material, and the rolling element A central linear portion that holds the first and second bent portions fixed to the slider, and the two bent portions are bent and extend from both ends of the linear portion to the outside in the width direction of the guide rail. A linear portion, and a second linear portion that extends and bends outward in the longitudinal direction from the tip of the first linear portion, and the end cap is a portion facing the raceway surface of the guide rail The longitudinal outer portion of the front An accommodation groove for accommodating the bent portion; and a fixing portion having an engagement hole into which a distal end of the second linear portion is inserted in an outer portion in the longitudinal direction of the accommodation groove. A locking portion that locks a part of the linear portion is formed on the inner portion in the longitudinal direction of the portion of the end cap that faces the raceway surface of the guide rail from the surface of the slider body that faces the guide rail. Is also provided so as to protrude toward the guide rail, the bent portions are fixed to the receiving groove and the fixing portion, and a part of the linear portion is fixed to the locking portion, whereby the cage Is attached to the slider.
In this linear motion guide device, the fixing portion may be formed by fitting a fixing member having the engagement hole in a fixing groove formed adjacent to the receiving groove.

  The linear motion guide device of the present invention does not require a large cage relief groove, has excellent rolling element retention by the cage, and has excellent scooping performance of the end cap scooping portion.

It is a top view which shows the structure of the linear guide apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a side view of the linear guide apparatus of FIG. It is the front view which looked at the linear motion guide apparatus of FIG. 1 from the longitudinal direction of the guide rail. It is the front view which looked at the linear motion guide apparatus of FIG. 1 from the longitudinal direction of the guide rail. However, the right half is a front view illustrating the side seal omitted, and the left half is a cross-sectional view taken along a virtual plane orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the guide rail. It is the principal part expanded sectional view which cut | disconnected the linear motion guide apparatus of FIG. 1 by the virtual horizontal surface along the longitudinal direction of a guide rail. However, the side seal is omitted in the drawing. It is a top view of a holder | retainer. It is a fragmentary sectional view of an end cap explaining the 1st mechanism for attaching a maintenance machine to a slider. It is a figure explaining a fixing member, (a) is a front view, (b) is a side view. It is sectional drawing explaining the structure of a latching | locking part (locking groove). It is a fragmentary sectional view of an end cap explaining the modification of the 1st mechanism for attaching a maintenance machine to a slider.

  An embodiment of a linear motion guide device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings referred to in the following description, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. Further, in the following description, “cross section” means a cross section when cut along a virtual plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the guide rail unless otherwise specified. Further, in the following description, terms indicating directions such as “up”, “down”, “left”, “right” and the like indicate the directions in FIGS. 3 and 4 for convenience of description unless otherwise specified. That means.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a slider 2 having a substantially U-shaped cross section is provided on a guide rail 1 having a substantially rectangular cross section extending in a straight line. It is assembled to be movable. Track surfaces 10, 10 formed of concave grooves having a substantially semicircular cross section extending in the longitudinal direction are formed at substantially the center in the vertical direction of both the left and right side surfaces 1 a, 1 a in the width direction of the guide rail 1.
And the groove | channel bottom part of the track surfaces 10 and 10 accommodates a part (straight part 41 mentioned later) of the holder | retainer 4, and prevents the retainer 4 and the guide rail 1 from interfering with the cage | basket escape groove 10a (wire groove | channel). ) Is formed along the longitudinal direction across both ends of the moving region of the slider 2 (for example, between both ends in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail 1). The cross-sectional shape of the cage escape groove 10a is, for example, a substantially triangular shape or a substantially rectangular shape.

The slider 2 includes a plate-like body 7 facing the upper surface 1b of the guide rail 1, and two legs 6 and 6 extending downward from the left and right sides of the body 7 and facing the side surface 1a. Since the angle formed by the body portion 7 and the leg portions 6 and 6 is substantially a right angle, the cross-sectional shape of the slider 2 is substantially U-shaped. The slider 2 is movably attached to the guide rail 1 such that the guide rail 1 is sandwiched between the leg portions 6 and 6.
Such a slider 2 includes a slider main body 2A and end caps 2B attached to both ends of the slider main body 2A (which are both ends in the longitudinal direction, which can be said to be both ends in the moving direction of the slider 2). 2B. Further, both end portions of the slider 2 (the outer end surfaces of the end caps 2B in the longitudinal direction) are in sliding contact with the outer surfaces (the upper surface 1b and the side surfaces 1a and 1a) of the guide rail 1 between the guide rail 1 and the slider 2. Side seals 5 and 5 for sealing a portion facing the end surface in the longitudinal direction of the opening of the gap are attached, and the opening of the gap between the guide rail 1 and the slider 2 is attached to the lower part of the slider 2. An under seal (not shown) for sealing a portion facing the lower surface side of the slider 2 is mounted. These side seals 5 and 5 and the under seal prevent foreign matter from entering the gap and leakage of the lubricant from the gap to the outside.

Further, the raceway surfaces 11, 11 formed of concave grooves having a substantially semicircular cross section facing the raceway surfaces 10, 10 of the guide rail 1 are provided at substantially the center in the vertical direction of the inner surfaces of the left and right legs 6, 6 of the slider body 2 </ b> A. Is formed. Rolling passages 13 and 13 having a substantially circular cross section are formed between the raceway surfaces 10 and 10 of the guide rail 1 and the raceway surfaces 11 and 11 of the slider 2, respectively. Extends in the longitudinal direction (see FIGS. 4 and 5).
A plurality of rolling elements 3 (balls) are slidably loaded in the rolling passages 13, and the slider 2 guides through the rolling of the rolling elements 3 in the rolling passages 13. It is guided by the rail 1 and can move in the longitudinal direction. The retainer 4 is formed of, for example, a wire. In order to prevent the rolling element 3 from dropping from the slider 2 that is not assembled to the guide rail 1, for example, before being assembled to the guide rail 1, Hold.

In addition, the kind of rolling element 3 is not limited to a ball | bowl, A roller may be sufficient. Further, the number of track surfaces 10 and 11 provided in the guide rail 1 and the slider 2 is not limited to one row on one side, and may be two or more rows on one side, for example. Further, the cross-sectional shape of the raceway surfaces 10 and 11 may be a circular arc formed of a single circular arc as described above, but may be a substantially V-shaped (gothic arc-shaped groove) formed by combining two circular arcs having different curvature centers. Good.
Further, the slider 2 is provided with return passages 14 and 14 each having a substantially circular through-hole having a cross-sectional shape penetrating in the longitudinal direction in parallel to the rolling passages 13 and 13 on the left and right leg portions 6 and 6 of the slider body 2A. (See FIGS. 4 and 5).

  On the other hand, the end cap 2B is made of, for example, a molded product of a resin material and has a substantially U-shaped cross section. In addition, on both the left and right sides of the back surface of the end cap 2B (the contact surface with the slider main body 2A), a direction changing path 15 having a circular cross-sectional shape and a circular arc shape is formed (see FIG. 5). When the end cap 2B is attached to the slider body 2A with a fastening member such as a screw, the rolling passage 13 and the return passage 14 are communicated with each other by the direction changing passage 15. In addition, the cross-sectional shape of the direction change path 15 is a cross-sectional shape when cut along a virtual plane orthogonal to the continuous direction of the direction change path 15.

The return passage 14 and the direction change paths 15 and 15 at both ends constitute a rolling element conveyance path 16 that conveys and circulates the rolling element 3 from the end point of the rolling path 13 to the starting point (the rolling element conveyance path 16 is a rolling element). The rolling passage 13 and the rolling element transporting path 16 form a substantially circular circulation path. The substantially annular circulation path is formed on both the left and right sides of the guide rail 1.
When the slider 2 assembled to the guide rail 1 moves in the longitudinal direction along the guide rail 1, the rolling element 3 loaded in the rolling passage 13 is guided while rolling in the rolling passage 13. It moves in the same direction as the slider 2 with respect to the rail 1. When the rolling element 3 reaches the end point of the rolling passage 13, it is scooped up from the rolling passage 13 by the scooping portion 18 provided in the end cap 2 </ b> B and sent to the direction change path 15. The rolling element 3 that has entered the direction change path 15 makes a U-turn and is introduced into the return path 14, and reaches the opposite direction change path 15 through the return path 14. Here, the U-turn is made again to return to the starting point of the rolling passage 13, and such circulation in the circulation path is repeated infinitely.

  Here, the retainer 4 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. The cage 4 is formed by bending both ends of a steel linear material (for example, a wire) (not shown) in two stages. That is, both ends of the linear material are bent into a substantially U shape, and then the most distal end portions of the bent both ends are further bent outward in the longitudinal direction of the linear material. The material of the linear material is not limited to steel, and other metal materials and resin materials can be adopted as long as they have characteristics such as elasticity and strength necessary for the cage.

  The retainer 4 thus obtained holds the rolling element 3 in order to prevent the rolling element 3 from falling off the slider 2 in a state where it is not assembled to the guide rail 1 (for example, before being assembled to the guide rail 1). The straight portion 41 is provided at the center, and the bent portions 42 that are fixed to the end cap 2B in order to attach the retainer 4 to the slider 2 are provided at both ends thereof. The two bent portions 42, 42 of the cage 4 are bent in two stages to bend and extend from both ends of the linear portion 41 to the outside in the width direction of the guide rail 1 (hereinafter referred to as “the width direction”). 44, 44 and second linear portions 45, 45 bent outward from the front end of the first linear portions 44, 44 in the longitudinal direction and extending in parallel with the linear portion 41 (the longitudinal direction). Have. The first linear portion 44 may be substantially linear as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, but may be curved, for example, in an arc shape. The second linear portion 45 is substantially linear as shown in FIGS.

  On the other hand, the end cap 2B is provided with two mechanisms for attaching the retainer 4 to the slider 2. First, as a first mechanism, a mechanism for fixing the bent portion 42 of the cage 4 is provided on the outer portion in the longitudinal direction of the portion of the end cap 2B that faces the track surface 10 of the guide rail 1. ing. As a second mechanism, a mechanism for fixing the linear portion 41 of the retainer 4 is provided on the inner portion in the longitudinal direction of the portion of the end cap 2B that faces the raceway surface 10 of the guide rail 1. ing.

First, the first mechanism will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, the first mechanism includes an accommodation groove 21 and a fixing portion 23 formed in the outer portion in the longitudinal direction of the portion of the inner surface of the end cap 2 </ b> B that faces the track surface 10 of the guide rail 1. Consists of. That is, in the inner side surface of the end cap 2B, on the outer portion in the longitudinal direction of the portion facing the raceway surface 10 of the guide rail 1, the groove extending in the longitudinal direction and having a width substantially the same as the diameter of the bent portion 42 is provided. Is formed, and the concave groove forms the accommodating groove 21 for accommodating the bent portion 42 of the cage 4 (see FIGS. 5 and 7).
Further, a fixing portion 23 for fixing the second linear portion 45 is provided on an outer portion of the receiving groove 21 in the longitudinal direction. The fixing portion 23 has an engagement hole 25a extending in the longitudinal direction, and the tip of the second linear portion 45 is inserted into the engagement hole 25a so that the second linear portion 45 is fixed. It has become. The fixing portion 23 may be formed integrally with the end cap 2B. However, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, a fixing member 25, which is a separate member from the end cap 2B, is attached to the end cap 2B. It may be formed by fixing.

That is, the fixing portion 23 may be formed by fitting the fixing member 25 having the engagement hole 25a into the fixing groove 27 formed adjacent to the outside of the housing groove 21 in the longitudinal direction. In the example of FIGS. 5, 7, and 8, the fixing member 25 is a cylindrical member, and a through hole is formed at the center to form an engagement hole 25a. 5, 7 and 8, the fixing groove 27 is a columnar through hole formed in the outer end in the longitudinal direction of the end cap 2B and extending in the longitudinal direction. A fixing portion 23 is formed by inserting and fitting 25.
The outer shape of the fixing member 25 and the inner shape of the through hole forming the fixing groove 27 are not limited to a cylindrical shape, and may be a polygonal column shape such as a quadrangular column shape. The fixing groove 27 is not limited to a through hole having an inner shape corresponding to the outer shape of the fixing member 25, and may be a linear concave groove. The fixing member 25 is fixed to the fixing groove 27 by forming a convex portion having a shape corresponding to the linear concave groove on the fixing member 25 and fitting the convex portion of the fixing member 25 into the linear concave groove. May be.

  Next, the second mechanism will be described. The second mechanism includes an engaging portion 29 formed on the inner portion in the longitudinal direction of the inner surface of the end cap 2B facing the raceway surface 10 of the guide rail 1 (a portion near the scooping portion 18). The retainer 4 is fixed to the end cap 2B by locking the vicinity of the end portion of the straight portion 41. Further, the engaging portion 29 is provided so as to protrude toward the guide rail 1 from the surface (inner side surface) facing the guide rail 1 of the slider body 2A.

  If the linear part 41 can be locked and the retainer 4 can be fixed to the end cap 2B, the structure of the locking part 29 is not particularly limited. An engaging groove having an arcuate cross section into which the portion is fitted is exemplified (see (a) of FIG. 9). The locking groove is arranged at the same position in the vertical direction as the track surface 11 of the slider 2 and extends linearly along the longitudinal direction. The retainer 4 is held by being fitted. The cross-sectional shape of the locking groove is not limited to an arc shape, and if the linear portion 41 can be locked and the retainer 4 can be fixed to the end cap 2B, for example, the cross-sectional triangle shape ((( b) and a rectangular cross section (see FIG. 9C).

Next, a method for attaching the cage 4 to the slider 2 will be described. There are various methods for attaching the cage 4 to the slider 2, for example, the following methods. A plurality of rolling elements 3 are arranged on the raceway surfaces 11 and 11 of the slider 2 in which the end caps 2B and 2B are attached to the slider body 2A, and a portion near the end of the linear portion 41 faces the locking portion 29 and is a bent portion. The cage 4 is arranged so that 42 faces the accommodation groove 21.
Subsequently, the cage 4 is moved outward in the width direction so that the bent portion 42 (the first linear portion 44 and the second linear portion 45) is accommodated in the accommodating groove 21 and the end of the linear portion 41 The vicinity of the part is locked to the locking part 29. Then, the fixing member 25 is fitted and attached to the fixing groove 27 formed in the end cap 2B to constitute the fixing portion 23, and the tip of the second linear portion 45 of the bent portion 42 is engaged with the fixing member 25. Insert into the joint hole 25a.

As a result, the bent portion 42 is fixed to the outer portion in the longitudinal direction of the portion of the end cap 2B that faces the raceway surface 10 of the guide rail 1, and the end of the straight portion 41 is also fixed to the inner portion in the longitudinal direction. The vicinity of the portion is fixed, and the mounting of the cage 4 to the slider 2 is completed.
The linear portion 41 of the cage 4 mounted by such a method is arranged so as to be parallel to the track surface 11 of the slider body 2A, and in a state where the slider 2 is not assembled to the guide rail 1, the linear portion The rolling element 3 is pressed from the inner side in the width direction by a central portion of 41 that is not locked to the locking portion 29.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the locking portion 29, the accommodation groove 21, and the fixing portion 23 for fixing the retainer 4 to the slider 2 do not protrude from the retainer 4 toward the guide rail 1. The cage escape groove 10a having a size corresponding to the diameter of the cage 4 may be provided, and the cage escape groove 10a need not be formed unnecessarily large. Since it is not necessary to form the cage escape groove 10a large, the problem that the effective contact range between the rolling element 3 and the raceway surface 10 is small is unlikely to occur, and the workability during manufacture of the guide rail 1 is adversely affected. It is hard to come out.
Furthermore, since the retainer 4 is fixed to the slider 2 by the locking portion 29, the accommodation groove 21, and the fixing portion 23, the retainability of the rolling element 3 by the retainer 4 is excellent. Therefore, it is not necessary to increase the diameter in order to increase the rigidity of the retainer 4 in order to improve the retainability, so there is no need to form the retainer escape groove 10a large.

Further, the locking portion 29, the receiving groove 21, and the fixing portion 23 are arranged on the outer side in the longitudinal direction from the scooping portion 18, and the position of the cage 4 is limited by the locking portion 29. In the state where the slider 2 is assembled to the guide rail 1, the cage 4 does not interfere with the rolling element 3.
Further, the locking portion 29 is provided so as to protrude to the guide rail 1 side from the surface (inner side surface) facing the guide rail 1 of the slider body 2A, and accordingly, the scooping portion 18 is similarly provided on the guide rail 1 side. Therefore, scooping of the rolling element 3 by the scooping portion 18 can be performed more smoothly, and the scooping performance of the scooping portion 18 is excellent.

  Further, when the cage 4 is mounted, there is a possibility that plastic deformation may occur in the linear portion 41. When plastic deformation occurs, the position where the rolling element 3 is pressed is shifted in the vertical direction from the normal position, There is a possibility that the retainability of the rolling element 3 may be lowered. However, if the locking portion 29 to which the portion near the end of the linear portion 41 is locked is the locking groove as described above, it is assumed that plastic deformation has occurred in the linear portion 41 when the retainer 4 is mounted. Is also corrected by fitting into the locking groove, and the position where the rolling element 3 is pressed becomes the normal position (the center position of the rolling element 3). Therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in retainability of the rolling element 3.

Such a linear motion guide device of the present embodiment can be applied to a transport mechanism such as a machine tool, a transport device, or a production facility.
In addition, this embodiment shows an example of this invention and this invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, the configuration of the fixing unit 23 may be as shown in FIG. In the modification of this embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the fixing member 25 has a slit 25b. That is, a slit 25b that communicates the outer surface of the fixing member 25 and the engagement hole 25a is formed along the longitudinal direction, and the fixing member 25 is fixed to the fixing groove 27 with the opening of the slit 25b facing inward in the width direction. Is fitted.

If the fixing member 25 has such a slit 25b, the second linear portion 45 of the retainer 4 is moved outward in the width direction and pushed into the engagement hole 25a from the slit 25b, whereby the retainer Four second linear portions 45 can be attached to the engagement holes 25 a of the fixing member 25. Therefore, attachment to the fixing | fixed part 23 of the holder | retainer 4 becomes easier.
In addition, when the fixing member 25 has such a slit 25b, if the outer shape of the fixing member 25 is a columnar shape, the fixing member 25 rotates in the fixing groove 27 and the opening of the slit 25b opens in the width direction. There is a risk of not facing inward. Therefore, it is preferable that the outer shape of the fixing member 25 and the inner shape of the through hole forming the fixing groove 27 are prismatic so that the fixing member 25 does not rotate in the fixing groove 27.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Guide rail 2 Slider 2A Slider main body 2B End cap 3 Rolling body 4 Cage 10 Track surface 11 Track surface 13 Rolling channel 14 Return channel 15 Direction change channel 21 Housing groove 23 Fixing part 25 Fixing member 25a Engagement hole 27 Fixing groove 29 Locking portion 41 Linear portion 42 Bending portion 44 First linear portion 45 Second linear portion

Claims (2)

A guide rail, a slider, and a plurality of rolling elements,
The guide rail and the slider each have a raceway surface that forms a rolling passage of the rolling element at a position facing each other,
The both raceway surfaces extend in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail,
The rolling element is disposed in the rolling passage;
Through the rolling of the rolling element in the rolling passage, the slider is guided by the guide rail and is movable in the longitudinal direction.
In the linear motion guide device comprising a cage that prevents the rolling element from falling off from the slider in a state where it is not assembled to the guide rail,
The slider has a slider body in which a raceway surface of the slider and a return passage of the rolling element composed of a through hole substantially parallel to the slider are formed, and a direction change path that communicates the rolling passage and the return passage. And an end cap that is detachably fixed to both ends of the slider body in the longitudinal direction, and the rolling element is moved from the end point of the rolling path to the starting point by the return path and the direction changing path. It is designed to be conveyed and circulated.
The cage is formed by bending both ends of a linear material, and includes a central linear portion that holds the rolling element, and bent portions at both ends that are fixed to the slider. The bent portion includes a first linear portion that is bent and extended from both ends of the linear portion to the outer side in the width direction of the guide rail, and a second bent portion that is bent and extended outward from the front end of the first linear portion. A linear portion;
The end cap includes an accommodation groove that accommodates the bent portion in an outer portion in the longitudinal direction of the portion facing the raceway surface of the guide rail, and the first end cap is further disposed in the outer portion in the longitudinal direction of the accommodation groove. A fixing portion having an engagement hole into which the tip of the two-wire portion is inserted;
Furthermore, a locking portion that locks a part of the linear portion is opposed to the guide rail of the slider body at an inner portion in the longitudinal direction of a portion of the end cap that faces the track surface of the guide rail. Is provided to protrude from the guide rail side to the guide rail side,
The both bent portions are fixed to the receiving groove and the fixing portion, and the retainer is attached to the slider by fixing a part of the linear portion to the locking portion. Linear motion guide device.   The linear motion guide device according to claim 1, wherein the fixing portion is formed by fitting a fixing member having the engagement hole in a fixing groove formed adjacent to the receiving groove.

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