JP2020122518A - Linear transmission device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a linear transmission device which instantaneously diagnoses the change in a distance between rolling members and knows presence/absence of abnormality occurrence in a spacer, and which can avoid an operation stop of a facility due to this abnormality.SOLUTION: A linear transmission device is constituted by a long shaft member 20, a movement module 30, a rolling unit 40, a reflux assembly 50, a detection element 60 and a data receiving unit 80, and the structure is simple. By installing the detection element 60 at a joint part of a first reflux tube 51 and a second reflux tube 52 of the reflux assembly 51, the difference in distance change between rolling members 41 can be instantaneously diagnosed before an abnormal situation of a spacer 42 of the rolling unit 40 occurs, and by outputting a detection signal via the detection element 60, a terminal is made to stop an operation immediately to confirm the state of a workpiece and a machine; thereby, a structural damage of the work and the machine due to a continuous operation can be avoided. Furthermore, the detection element 60 can function as a medium for data transmission, and maintenance is facilitated.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a linear transmission device, and more particularly to a linear transmission device capable of instantaneously diagnosing a change in distance between rolling members.

FIG. 1A shows an example of the linear roller bearing disclosed in Patent Document 1,
This linear roller bearing includes a guide carriage 1, and the guide carriage 1 is rotatably mounted on a guide rail 2 via balls (not shown). The guide carriage 1 is provided with at least one rolling passage (not shown) for the ball, and the rolling passage connects the supporting passage (not shown) for supporting the ball and the supporting passage. And a deflection passage (not shown) which is disposed in the end member 3 of the guide carriage 1, and the ball in the rolling passage is subjected to a displacement resistance in the rotational direction, whereby the end member Each of the sensors 3 is provided with a sensor 4, and the sensor 4 determines whether or not there is an abnormality by detecting a sliding resistance force caused by a collision with a lid when the ball is running.
However, the installation of the sensor 4 generally increases the length of the guide carriage 1, thus increasing the cost and complicating the structure, thus possibly affecting the problem of the working stroke.

FIG. 1B shows an example of a ball screw having a detection device according to Patent Document 2, in which the displacement of the ball 7 is measured by providing a capacitive or optical detection device 6 in the concave groove of the nut 5. Then, the force received by the nut 5 is determined.
However, since the structure of the detection device 6 changes the size of the outer shape of the nut 5, there is a problem that the outer diameter of the nut 5 is increased, which may affect the operation stroke of the nut 5.

Further, Patent Document 3 discloses a prior art in which a vibration sensor is provided at a bent portion of an outer circulation member of a ball screw to detect a traveling state of a ball. Of these, it is necessary to perform a special drilling process on the nut to attach the vibration sensor, the machining method is complicated and the cost is high, and in the method of setting the vibration sensor at the bent portion of the outer circulation member, the ball is The smooth running degree of the ball can be grasped only by detecting the stress change due to the collision with the wall of the outer circulation member.
However, there are problems in that the balls do not move smoothly due to poor lubrication, changes in the distance between the balls cannot be measured, and it is not possible to know whether the balls are dead or not.

In addition, for example, Patent Documents 4 and 5 also have the above-mentioned drawbacks. Therefore, conventional linear transmissions still need further improvement.

US Pat. No. 7,178,981 JP, 2007-225024, A Japanese Patent No. 3936519 JP, 2014-159847, A JP, 2013-200032, A

An object of the present invention is to immediately diagnose a difference in change in distance between rolling members, know whether or not a spacer between rolling members collapses and is clogged, and further, stop operation of equipment due to damage of the device. It is to provide a linear transmission device that can avoid the above.

The linear transmission device of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems includes a long shaft member, a moving module, a rolling unit, a reflux assembly, at least one detection element, and a data receiving unit. The shaft member extends along the axial direction and has a rolling groove, and the moving module is fitted to the long shaft member so as to be capable of reciprocating along the axial direction, and the rolling module is provided in the rolling groove. Having another rolling groove arranged correspondingly, a load path is formed by the rolling groove and the another rolling groove, and the rolling unit is arranged in the load path, In addition, a plurality of rolling members and a plurality of spacers are provided, and one spacer is provided between the rolling members, and the reflux assembly is provided in the moving module and communicates with the load path. In addition, there is a first reflux tube, a second reflux tube in communication with the first reflux tube, and a reflux passage that penetrates the first reflux tube and the second reflux tube, and the reflux channel is The rotary unit is circulated for reflux, and the detection element is disposed in the moving module and is located at a joint between the first reflux tube and the second reflux tube. When the moving unit circulates and recirculates in the return passage, the at least one detection element detects a change in distance between the rolling members and outputs a detection signal thereof, and the data receiving unit It is characterized in that it is connected to at least one detection element and receives a detection signal output by the detection element.

Preferably, the linear transmission is a ball screw, the linear transmission includes a fixed cover, the fixed cover is disposed on an outer surface of the moving module, and the return assembly and the at least one detection unit. And an accommodating groove for accommodating the reflux assembly and the at least one detecting element, the groove wall surface of the accommodating groove including at least one detecting element for accommodating at least one detecting element. The storage groove is recessed.

Preferably, the first reflux tube has a first connection end and a first communication end, the second reflux tube has a second connection end and a second communication end, the reflux passage, The first connection end and the first communication end of the first reflux tube penetrate the second connection end and the second communication end of the second reflux tube, and the first connection end of the first reflux tube is Corresponding to the second connection end of the second reflux tube, the first communication end of the first reflux tube and the second communication end of the second reflux tube are respectively connected to both ends of the load path, and the at least one The detection element is located on one side of the first connection end of the first reflux tube and the second connection end of the second reflux tube.

Preferably, the first connection end of the first reflux tube contacts the second connection end of the second reflux tube.

Preferably, the return passage is linear in a portion that penetrates the first connection end and the second connection end.

Since the linear transmission device of the present invention is composed of the long shaft member, the moving module, the rolling unit, the reflux assembly, the detecting element, and the data receiving unit, the structure is simple, By installing the detection element at the joint between the reflux tube and the second reflux tube, it is possible to immediately diagnose the difference in the change in the distance between the rolling members.
In addition to knowing whether the spacer between the rolling members is abnormal such as collapse, output the detection signal via the detection element to immediately stop the operation at the terminal and check the work and machine status. However, it is possible to avoid structural damage to the work or machine due to continuous operation. Furthermore, the sensing element can also serve as a medium for data transmission, further facilitating maintenance.

FIG. 6 is an overall perspective view showing a linear roller bearing according to Patent Document 1. It is sectional drawing which shows the ball screw which has the detection apparatus by patent document 1. It is the whole schematic diagram of a 1st embodiment of the present invention, and shows the case where a linear transmission is a ball screw. It is a disassembled perspective view (the 1) of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is an exploded perspective view (the 2) of a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view (1) of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view (1) of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the whole perspective view of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It shows that a detection element and a data receiving unit communicate by radio|wireless. It is the whole perspective view of the 3rd Embodiment of the present invention, and shows the case where a linear transmission is a linear slide.

Hereinafter, a linear transmission device according to the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

A preferred embodiment of the linear transmission device according to the present invention is, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, a long shaft member 20, a moving module 30, a rolling unit 40, a recirculation assembly 50, and a detecting element 60. , A fixed cover 70 and a data receiving unit 80. Each component will be described below.

The long shaft member 20 extends along the axial direction X. In this embodiment, the long shaft member 20 is a screw shaft, and further has a screw shaft outer peripheral surface 21, and a spiral rolling groove 22 is provided in the screw shaft outer peripheral surface 21.

The moving module 30 is externally fitted to the long shaft member 20 so as to be capable of reciprocating along the axial direction X, and can be linearly moved with respect to the long shaft member 20, and corresponds to the rolling groove 22. The other rolling groove 31 is provided so that the rolling groove 22 and the other rolling groove 31 form a load path. In this embodiment, the moving module 30 is a nut.

The rolling unit 40 is disposed in the load path, has a plurality of rolling members 41 and a plurality of spacers 42, and has one spacer 42 between each rolling member 41. There is. In this embodiment, the rolling member 41 is a ball, and in other embodiments, the rolling member 41 is a roller. The spacer 42 is a cylinder, and concave grooves for accommodating the rolling member 41 are formed on both sides of the spacer 42, respectively.
so,

The reflux assembly 50 is made of a plastic material, and the two reflux assemblies 50 are installed outside the moving module 30 and communicate with the load path.
In the present embodiment, both ends of each of the reflux assemblies 50 are bored in the moving module 30, and further, a first reflux tube 51, a second reflux tube 52 communicating with the first reflux tube 51, and the second reflux tube 52. There is a return passage 53 penetrating the first return tube 51 and the second return tube 52, and the return passage 53 circulates the rolling unit 40 to return it.

In the present embodiment, since the two reflux assemblies 50 have substantially the same structure, one of the reflux assemblies 50 will be further described.
The first reflux tube 51 has a first connection end 512 and a first communication end 514, and the second reflux tube 52 has a second connection end 522 and a second communication end 524. The passage 53 passes through the first connection end 512 and the first communication end 514 of the first reflux tube 51, the second connection end 522 and the second communication end 524 of the second reflux tube 52, and the return passage 53 is linear in a portion that penetrates the first connection end 512 and the second connection end 522. The first connection end 512 of the first reflux tube 51 corresponds to the second connection end 522 of the second reflux tube 52, and the first communication end 514 of the first reflux tube 51 and the second reflux tube 52. Second communication ends 524 of are connected to both ends of the load path.

In other embodiments, the linear transmission may also have only one return assembly 50.

The long shaft member (screw shaft), the moving module (nut), the two reflux assemblies, and the rolling unit are assembled by a conventionally known method. The operation method is the same as the conventionally known method, and is not a characteristic constituent feature of the present invention. The detailed structures, assembling methods, and operating methods of the long shaft member, the moving module, the two circulation assemblies, and the rolling unit will be omitted.

Of the four detection elements 60, of which two detection elements 60 are respectively disposed corresponding to the outer surfaces of both sides of each reflux assembly 50, and the first reflux tube 51 and the second reflux tube 52 are provided. Located at the junction of. Further, the two detection elements 60 are located on both sides of the first connection end 512 of the first reflux tube 51 and the second connection end 522 of the second reflux tube 52, respectively. Of course, it is not limited to this.

See Figure 3B. In another preferred embodiment, alternatively, one sensing element 60 is disposed on one side of the first connecting end 512 of the first reflux tube 51 and the second connecting end 522 of the second reflux tube 52. However, the same effect can be obtained. Accordingly, when the rolling unit 40 circulates and circulates in the return passage, each of the detection elements 60 detects a change in the distance between the rolling members 41 and outputs a detection signal thereof to detect the adjacent distance. By identifying the difference in the gap between the two rolling members 41, it is possible to judge whether each spacer 42 between the rolling members 41 is damaged or collapsed.
Further, the return passage 53 has a linear shape in a portion penetrating the first connecting end 512 and the second connecting end 522, and each rolling member 41 and each spacer 42 has the first connecting end. The detection signal measured by the detection element 60 is relatively accurate because it passes through the portion of the reflux passage 53 that passes through the second connection end 522 and 512.

In the present embodiment, the inductive sensing type is illustrated as the detection element 60, but the sensing element 60 is not limited to this, or may be an optical sensing type. The inductive sensing type is a device that realizes measurement by utilizing changes in the coil's autonomous inductance or mutual inductance.It has a simple structure, low cost, customizable external dimensions, high output efficiency, and high interference prevention performance. However, there are advantages that the requirements for the working environment are not high, the decomposition performance is relatively high, and the stability is good. On the other hand, the optical sensing type utilizes various properties of light, detects the presence or absence of an object or changes in the surface state, has a relatively long detection distance, and has relatively few limiting conditions for detecting an object. It has advantages such as non-contact detection and high resolution.
The spacer 42 is tilted between the two rolling members 41, and the distance between the two rolling members 41 is a safety value (2 mm in the present embodiment, and is limited to this in other embodiments. However, it may change according to different design purposes), the recirculation passage 53 and the rolling unit 40 in the load passage may become immobile, which may cause damage to equipment or devices or stop operation. Extremely high. In such a case, by designing the detection element 60, it is possible to instantaneously diagnose the abnormality of the linear transmission device and immediately stop the operation at the terminal to check the state of the work or the work table. It is possible to avoid structural damage such as a workpiece and a work.

In the present embodiment, the first connection end 512 of the first reflux tube tube 51 is in contact with the second connection end 522 of the second reflux tube 52.
In another preferred embodiment, the first connection end 512 of the first reflux tube 51 is separated from the second connection end 522 of the second reflux tube 52 by 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm, and thus the sensing element. 60 measures the change in the distance between the rolling member elements 41 through the gap between the first connection end 512 and the second connection end 522, and improves the detection accuracy and effect.

The linear transmission includes a fixed cover 70, the fixed cover 70 is disposed on an outer surface of the moving module 30, and covers the two reflux assemblies 40 and the four detection elements 60. It has an accommodation groove 71 for accommodating the reflux assembly 50, and four accommodation grooves 72 for accommodating the four detection elements 60 are recessed in the groove wall surface of the accommodation groove 71.
Specifically, many conventional monitoring methods use an accelerometer to monitor the operating state of the ball screw, but there is a sufficient relationship between the position where the detection element is arranged and the signal strength. Often faced with the question of whether or not. In the present invention, in order to improve the above-mentioned drawbacks, four storage grooves 72 corresponding to the four detection elements 60 are provided in the groove wall surface of the accommodation groove 71. In addition to fixing the position of the four detection elements 60, the placement of the detection elements 60 closer to the two reflux assemblies 50 effectively reduces signal interference and maintains a stable signal. The purpose can be achieved. As a result, the present invention attaches the four detection elements 60 by fully utilizing the original space of the fixed cover 70. Therefore, it is not necessary to change the original external dimensions of the long shaft member 20, and By diagnosing the difference in the distance change between the rolling member bodies 41 in real time without affecting the design of the machine, it is possible to prevent the facility from stopping.

The data receiving unit 80 is signal-wise connected to the four detection elements 60 and receives the detection signals output by the four detection elements 60. In the present embodiment, wired transmission is taken as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. As shown in FIG. 6, the four detection elements 60 and the data receiving unit are Wi-Fi (registered trademark), Bluetooth (registered trademark), RF, ZigBee (registered trademark), LoRa (registered trademark), and WiGig ( Signal transmission is performed to the data receiving unit 80 by a registered trademark), 4G, or 5G wireless. As a result, complicated wiring work and wiring space can be saved, and there is no need to consider wiring installation.

Further, in the above embodiment, the ball screw is used for description, but as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, the linear transmission device of the present embodiment can be applied to a linear slide.
The long shaft member 20 is a slide rail, the moving module 30 is a slider, and the two reflux assemblies 50 are disposed in the moving module 30. When the chain holder 90 breaks, the gap between the rolling members 91 at the breaking point becomes large, and the broken abnormality of the chain holder 90 can be detected via the detection element 60, and the same effect as above. Can be obtained.

The above is a description of each main constituent requirement of the linear transmission device according to the embodiment of the present invention. The operation and effect of the present invention will be described below.

The linear transmission device of the present invention has a simple structure, and by installing the detection element 60 at the joint portion of the first reflux tube 51 and the second reflux tube 52 of the reflux assembly 50, the linear transmission device between the rolling members 41 is separated. The difference in the distance change can be immediately diagnosed. Further, by knowing whether the spacer 42 between the rolling members is abnormal or not, and by outputting a detection signal via the detection element 60, the operation is immediately stopped at the terminal and the state of the work and the machine is confirmed, It is possible to avoid structural damage to the work or machine due to continuous operation. Furthermore, the detection element 60 can also function as a medium for data transmission, further facilitating maintenance.

X axis direction 20 long axis member 21 screw shaft outer peripheral surface 22 rolling groove 30 moving module 31 rolling groove 40 rolling unit
41 rolling member 42 spacer 50 reflux assembly 51 first reflux tube 512 first connection end 514 first communication end 52 second reflux tube 522 second connection end 524 second communication end 53 reflux path 60 detection element 70 fixed Cover 71 Storage groove 72 Storage groove 80 Data receiving unit 90 Chain holder 91 Rolling member

Claims (5)

A linear transmission,
A long shaft member, a moving module, a rolling unit, a reflux assembly, at least one sensing element, and a data receiving unit,
The long shaft member extends along the axial direction and has a rolling groove,
The moving module has another rolling groove that is fitted to the long shaft member so as to be capable of reciprocating along the axial direction and that is arranged corresponding to the rolling groove. A load path is formed with the other rolling groove,
The rolling unit is disposed in the load path, has a plurality of rolling members and a plurality of spacers, and one spacer is provided between each rolling member,
The reflux assembly is provided in the transfer module and is in communication with the load path, and includes a first reflux tube, a second reflux tube in communication with the first reflux tube, the first reflux tube and the first reflux tube. 2 reflux tube penetrating through the reflux tube, the reflux path is used to circulate the rolling unit to reflux.
The detection element is disposed in the moving module and is located at a joint between the first reflux tube and the second reflux tube, and when the rolling unit circulates in the reflux passage to recirculate, At least one detection element detects a change in distance between the rolling members and outputs a detection signal thereof,
The data receiving unit is connected to the at least one detection element and receives a detection signal output by the detection element,
Linear transmission. The linear transmission is a ball screw, and the linear transmission includes a fixed cover, the fixed cover is installed on an outer surface of the moving module, and includes the reflux assembly and the at least one detection element. At least one storage groove for accommodating at least one detection element is recessed in a wall surface of the reception groove, which has a housing groove for covering the reflux assembly and the at least one detection element. The linear transmission device according to claim 1, wherein the linear transmission device is provided. The first reflux tube has a first connection end and a first communication end, the second reflux tube has a second connection end and a second communication end, and the reflux passage has the first connection end. The first connection end and the first communication end of the reflux tube and the second connection end and the second communication end of the second reflux tube penetrate, and the first connection end of the first reflux tube is the second reflux end. Corresponding to the second connection end of the tube, the first communication end of the first reflux tube and the second communication end of the second reflux tube are respectively connected to both ends of the load path, and the at least one detection element is The linear transmission device according to claim 1, wherein the linear transmission device is located on one side of the first connection end of the first return tube and the second connection end of the second return tube. The linear transmission device according to claim 3, wherein the first connection end of the first reflux tube abuts the second connection end of the second reflux tube. The linear transmission device according to claim 3, wherein the return passage is linear in a portion that penetrates the first connection end and the second connection end.

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