JP2539392Y2 - End cap of linear guide device - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

This invention is based on the idea that a slider straddled on a guide rail smoothly travels in a straight line through the rolling of an infinite number of steel balls interposed between opposing surfaces thereof in an infinite circulation path. In particular, the present invention relates to an end cap of a linear guide device, wherein a return guide for forming a direction change path of the ball is improved so as to be formed integrally with the end cap.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The structure of a ball direction changing path formed in an end cap of a conventional linear guide device is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 63-133636. In this conventional example (first conventional example), a thin U-shaped spacer, which is a separate component, is sandwiched between an end face in the advancing direction of the slider and an end cap. A short semi-cylindrical direction-changing path projection (return guide) constituting the inner wall surface of the direction-changing section of the ball infinite circulation path is protruded. On the other hand, on the end cap surface, a projecting end fitting groove is formed together with the groove forming the outer wall surface of the direction change portion, and the return guide provided on the spacer is formed in the projecting end fitting groove. And the slider and the end cap are integrally assembled with the spacer interposed therebetween, thereby forming a half donut-shaped direction change path at both ends of the slider.

[0003] Second, as a conventional example, for example, FIG.
2. Description of the Related Art There is known a direction change path structure as shown in FIG. The end fitting groove 15A of the return guide 15 is formed in the end cap 8 together with the concave groove 10b constituting the semicircular outer guide surface 10a of the direction change path. The end portion of the formed short semi-cylindrical return guide 15 is fitted and assembled to form a semi-doughnut-shaped turning path.

[0004]

However, in the first embodiment, a spacer is required separately from the slider and the end cap, and the spacer is mounted between the slider and the end cap. Therefore, when disassembling and assembling the slider, there is a problem that the end cap and the spacer are easily separated and separated, and the operation is troublesome.

In the second embodiment, the work of assembling the end cap is difficult because the return guide is small. In particular, in the case of a miniature type linear guide device, there is a problem that the return guide is extremely small and the assembling work efficiency is significantly reduced. Furthermore, if the end cap is attached to the slider, it is difficult to check from the outside whether the return guide has been forgotten to be assembled.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and the work of assembling and disassembling is easy, and the quality can be guaranteed without fear of forgetting to assemble the return guide. Another object of the present invention is to provide an end cap for a linear guide device which is highly mass-producible.

[0007]

According to the present invention, a guide rail extending long with axial ball rolling grooves on both sides is provided.
A slider body having a ball rolling groove movably fitted on the guide rail and facing the ball rolling groove of the guide rail and a ball return path parallel to the ball rolling groove; and a ball facing the ball return path. An end cap having a curved path connecting the rolling grooves and joined to both axial ends of the slider body; and an infinite circulation comprising the opposed ball rolling grooves, both curved paths and a ball return path. In a linear guide device having a number of balls rotatably inserted into a path, an end cap is fitted to a U-shaped lower member having an opening through which a guide rail passes in a central portion, and a U-shaped lower member. The lower member has a semi-circular concave groove forming an outer guide surface of the curved path on both sleeves thereof and an inner guide surface provided upright at a center position thereof. Make up A cylindrical return guide is formed, and attachment means for connecting to the slider body is formed at a connecting portion of both sleeves. The upper member has a surface for covering the semicircular concave groove and an end of the return guide. Forming a semi-circular concave portion to be fitted and mounting means to the slider main body, providing a locking convex portion on one of the upper member and the lower member and a locking concave portion on the other, and engaging the locking concave portion with the locking concave portion. The curved path is formed by engaging the projections in correspondence with each other.

[0008]

The end cap is divided into upper and lower members, and the lower member is formed integrally with the semicircular concave groove forming the curved path and the return guide. Therefore, mass production by injection molding is possible and the productivity is good. In addition, if the engaging concave portion and the engaging convex portion of both members are engaged with each other so as to be integrated, the end cap can be integrated with one touch, and the end cap can be handled as one component, thereby reducing the number of components. Also, even if it is a miniature type, there are no extremely small parts, so that operations such as disassembly and assembly are easy. Further, since the return guide is formed integrally with the end cap, it is impossible to forget to attach it, and it is apparent at first glance whether or not the end cap itself is assembled.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1 to 4 show an embodiment of the present invention.
Is a plan view of a main part of the miniature linear guide device, a part of which is shown in cross section, FIG. 2 is a front view of FIG. 1 in which a part of the end cap is cut away, and FIG. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a front view of the same.

As shown in FIG. 1, a slider 2 having a substantially U-shaped cross section is loosely fitted on a guide rail 1 so as to be relatively movable. Each of the guide rails 1 has a ball rolling groove 3 having a substantially semicircular cross section that is long in the axial direction on both sides thereof.
A is provided. On the other hand, a ball rolling groove 5A facing the ball rolling groove 3A is formed on the inner surface side of both sleeve portions of the slider body 2A, and a ball rolling path (load path) 6A is formed by these two facing grooves. Have been. A ball return passage 7A having a circular cross section is formed in both sleeves of the slider main body 2A and penetrated in the axial direction in parallel with the ball rolling path 6A.

At the front and rear ends of the slider body 2A in the axial direction, end caps 8 made of injection-molded synthetic resin are provided.
Are joined together. The overall cross section of the end cap 8 is substantially U-shaped. In both sleeves 9,
A semicircular curved path 10 is formed on the side of the joining end face 8a that comes into contact with the end face 2a of the slider body 2A.
The curved path 10 connects the ball rolling path 6 </ b> A and the ball return path 7 </ b> A, and is provided on the end surfaces of both the sleeves 9 of the end cap 8 at the center of each curved path 10. It has a columnar return guide 15 and is formed in a semi-donut shape. A large number of balls B are loaded in an infinite circulation path formed by the ball rolling path 6A, the front and rear curved paths 10, and the ball return path 7A.

The structure of the end cap 8 of this embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. The end cap 8 has a U-shaped lower end having an opening 11 at the center through which the guide rail 1 passes. Member 16 and upper member 17 fitted thereto
And a combination structure of upper and lower two members. Lower member 1
6 has an outer guide surface 10 of a curved path 10 on both sleeves thereof.
a, and a semi-cylindrical return guide 15 erected at the center thereof and constituting an inner guide surface 10c of the curved path 10 are integrally formed.
In addition, the connecting portion 18 of both sleeves has two
A plurality of mounting bolt holes 19 (mounting means) are formed.
The upper member 17 is provided on both sides of the lower surface with surfaces 20 for covering the semicircular concave grooves 10b of the lower member 16. Further, a joining end face 8a with the slider body 2A, which is the back surface, is provided.
Further, a semicircular concave portion 21 into which the end of the return guide 15 is fitted, and a mounting bolt hole 22 (mounting means) communicating with the mounting bolt hole 19 of the lower member 16 are formed.

Further, in order to position and engage the upper member 17 and the lower member 16, a rectangular locking projection 23 which is long in the width direction is protruded below the front surface 17 a of the upper member 17. . On the other hand, the lower member 16 is provided with a locking recess 24 above the opening 11 through which the guide rail 1 passes so that the locking projection 23 can be fitted. The end of the end cap 8 on the guide rail side of the curved path 10 projects inward in a substantially semicircular shape as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 to form a ball scooping projection 10d. The tip forming an acute angle can be loosely fitted into the ball rolling groove 3A of the guide rail 1.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 27 denotes a bolt insertion hole for fixing the guide rail 1 to a base or the like (not shown) when the linear guide device is used, and reference numeral 28 denotes a slider 2 for receiving a cover such as a table. Screw holes for bolts to fix the driver, 2
Reference numeral 9 denotes a screw hole for an end cap mounting bolt provided on the joint end surface 2a of the slider body. Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the end cap 8 is divided into a lower member 16 and an upper member 17, so that the curved path 10 and the return guide 15 can be easily injection-molded integrally. It is possible and mass production is easy.
The assembly of the lower member 16 and the upper member 17 is performed integrally with the lower member 1.
6 is fitted to the locking recess 24 of the lower member 16 by utilizing elastic deformation, and the end of the return guide 15 erected on the lower member 16 is formed into a semicircle of the upper member 17. This is performed by fitting into the arc-shaped concave portion 21. The locking projection 23 and the locking recess 24 ensure the joining accuracy of the lower member 16 and the upper member 17, and at the same time, the end of the return guide 15 and the semicircular recess 2.
In combination with the fitting of the first member 1, the lower member 16 and the upper member 17 can be firmly integrated and fixed with one touch. As a result, the return guide 8 is completely integrated into one part having a semi-donut-shaped turning path, and does not separate unless it is forcibly disassembled. Therefore, the subsequent assembling work of the slider is performed efficiently. Further, since the return guide 15 is formed integrally with the end cap 8, it is unlikely that the return guide 15 will be forgotten to be attached as in the case of a separate product, so that quality assurance can be ensured.

With the joining end face 8a of the end cap 8 integrated in this way facing the joining end face 2a with the slider body 2A, the small machine screws 26 are inserted into the mounting bolt insertion holes 22 and 19 to join the slider body. The end cap 8 is fixed to the slider body 2A by being screwed into the screw hole 29 of the end face 2a and tightened. Guide rail 1
When the upper slider 2 is moved in the axial direction, the ball B inserted into the ball rolling path 6A rolls with the movement of the slider 2 and moves in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the slider 2 with respect to the slider 2. I do. At the rear end of the slider 2, a ball scooping projection 10 provided on the end cap 8 is provided.
The direction is changed by being guided by d, and a U-turn is made along the curved path 10. Subsequently, the ball is returned through the ball return passage hole 7A of the slider main body 2A, is again U-turned by the curved path 10 of the end cap 8 on the opposite side, returns to the ball rolling path 6A, and repeats the circulation while continuing the rolling.

In the U-turn, there is no play of the return guide 15, so that the U-turn of the ball guided by the return guide 15 is performed smoothly. Therefore, good operability of the linear guide device can be obtained. FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment. In this embodiment, the connecting portion 18 of the lower member 16 of the end cap 8 is used.
The engagement recess 24A is formed by enlarging the diameter of the mounting bolt insertion hole 19 in the above, while the engagement recess 24A can be engaged with the opening position of the upper member 17 on the front face 17a side of the installation bolt insertion hole 22. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that a locking projection 23A is formed. Other configurations, operations and effects are the same as those of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment. In this embodiment, the lower portions of the lower sleeves 16 of the lower member 16 of the end cap 8 are cut off to form a long groove-shaped locking recess 24B, and the diameter of the mounting bolt insertion hole 19 of the connecting portion 18 is reduced. Enlarged to form a locking recess 24A, while extending both sides of the upper member 17 downward to form a locking recess 24B at the lower end thereof.
In the same manner as in the second embodiment, the engaging projection 23B engages with the engaging recess 24A at the opening position on the front face 17a side of the mounting bolt insertion hole 22 of the upper member. This embodiment differs from the above embodiments in that a stop projection 23A is formed.

According to the third embodiment, the locking recess 24
A in addition to the engagement between the locking projections 23A and the locking recesses 24B.
There is an advantage that the lower member 16 and the upper member 17 can be more firmly and integrally fixed by the engagement between the lower member 16 and the locking projection 23B. In each of the embodiments described above, the miniature type linear guide device is described, but the end cap structure of the present invention can be applied to other linear guide devices.

[0020]

As described above, the end cap of the linear guide device according to the present invention is divided into upper and lower members.
Since the lower member is formed integrally with the semicircular concave groove forming the curved path of the ball infinite circulation path and the return guide, and the upper member is fitted to this, the mass production by injection molding is possible and the productivity is good. . In addition, if the locking concave portion and the locking convex portion of the upper and lower members are engaged in correspondence with each other, the end cap can be integrated with one touch, and can be handled as one component, so that the number of components is reduced, and even if the miniature Even if it is a type, there are no extremely small parts, so work such as disassembly and assembly is easy.In addition, since the return guide is integrally molded with the end cap, it can not be forgotten to attach it, ensuring the quality assurance of the linear guide device Various effects can be obtained, for example,

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a cross section of a part of a linear guide device having an end cap of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of FIG. 1 with a part of an end cap cut away.

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view showing an exploded end cap.

FIG. 4 is an exploded front perspective view showing an end cap.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view showing another example of the end cap of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view showing still another example of the end cap of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view showing an example of a conventional end cap.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Guide rail 2 Slider 2A Slider main body 3A, 5A Ball rolling groove 7A Ball return passage 8 End cap 10 Curved path 10a Outer guide surface 10b Semicircular concave groove 10c Inner guide surface 11 Opening 15 Return guide 16 Lower member 17 Upper member 18 Connecting part 21 Semicircular concave part 23, 23A, 23B Locking convex part 24, 24A, 24B Locking concave part

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] An elongated guide rail having axial ball rolling grooves on both side surfaces, a ball rolling movably fitted on the guide rail and facing the ball rolling groove of the guide rail. A slider body having a moving groove and a ball return path parallel to the groove, and a curved path connecting the ball return groove and the ball rolling groove opposed to each other, and joined to both ends in the axial direction of the slider body. A linear guide device comprising: an end cap; and a number of balls rotatably inserted into an infinite circulation path including the opposed ball rolling grooves, both curved paths, and a ball return path. Is a combined structure of upper and lower two members of a U-shaped lower member having an opening through which the guide rail passes in the center, and an upper member fitted thereto, and the lower member has Outside the curved road A semi-circular concave groove forming the side guide surface and a semi-cylindrical return guide erected at the center position and forming an inner guide surface are formed, and a connecting portion of both sleeves is connected to the slider body. A mounting means is formed, and a surface covering the semicircular concave groove, a semicircular concave part in which an end of the return guide fits, and a mounting means to the slider body are formed on the upper member. The curved path is formed by providing a locking protrusion on one of the upper member and the lower member and a locking recess on the other, and engaging the locking recess and the locking protrusion in a corresponding manner. Characteristic end cap of linear guide device.