JP2775129B2 - Linear guide device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a linear guide device used for, for example, linear movement of a table of a machine tool, and more particularly, to a linear guide rail and a moving body that moves across the guide rail. And a linear guide device comprising:

[0002] In this specification, front, rear, left and right refer to the moving direction of a moving body.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a direct-acting type guide device of this type, a moving body has a substantially U-shaped cross section with one annular ball circulating path (rolling element circulating path) in each of leg portions on both sides. The moving block is composed of a block and a plurality of balls (rolling elements) that circulate between the guide rails by circulating through the ball circulation paths of the moving block, and the moving block includes end cap portions at both ends and a remaining intermediate portion. Each ball circulation path has a groove-like outward path formed on the guide rail side of the leg section on both sides of the intermediate portion of the moving block so as to face the guide rail, and an outer side of the outward path of these leg sections. There is known a hole-shaped return path formed by a formed return path and an inversion path formed at end cap portions at both ends of the moving block and connecting the end of the outward path and the end of the return path. In this linear motion guide device, the return path includes a groove formed on the left and right outer surfaces of the leg-like portions on both sides of the intermediate portion, and a front and rear end portion attached to the end cap portion and closing the intermediate portion. It is formed by members. The reversing path is formed by a recess formed on the inner surface in the front-rear direction of the end cap portion and a guide member fitted in the recess.

However, in the above-described linear guide device, since the moving block includes the two end cap portions, the intermediate portion, the closing member, and the guide member, the number of parts and the number of assembly steps are increased. There was a problem that cost was high. Further, there is a problem that the ball is not smoothly turned over due to a mounting error between the end cap portion and the intermediate portion.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a moving block has a moving block which connects end cap portions at both front and rear ends and both end cap portions integrally, and moves both leg portions of the moving block in the left-right direction. A first component member comprising a connecting portion forming an outer lower portion, a main body portion fitted between both end cap portions, and left and right sides of both leg-like portions of the moving block integrally formed so as to be shorter than the main body portion; A second projecting portion formed of a downwardly projecting portion forming a lower portion on the inside in the direction, a forward path is formed at the downwardly projecting portion, and a return path is formed by a connecting portion of the first component and a downwardly projecting portion of the second component. And a reversing path formed between the front and rear ends of the connecting portion of the first component and the front and rear ends of the main body of the second component. There has been proposed (JP-A-4-2
No. 48018). According to this configuration, there is a small difference in level between the forward path and the reversing path and the boundary between the return path and the reversing path in the moving direction of the ball, and the ball is smoothly reversed.

[0006]

However, in the linear guide device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-248018, since the length of the downwardly protruding portion is shorter than the length of the main body portion, the following problem arises. There's a problem. That is, in order to manufacture the second component, first, it is composed of two portions corresponding to the main body portion and the downwardly projecting portion, respectively, by a drawing process, and the cross-sectional shape thereof crosses the center of the length of the second component. It is necessary to form a profile that is the same as the surface shape, then cut this profile into a predetermined length, and then mill and cut both ends of the part corresponding to the downwardly projecting part, so that milling Is troublesome and the processing cost is high.

An object of the present invention is to provide a linear guide device which solves the above problem.

[0008]

A linear guide device according to the present invention comprises a linear guide rail and a moving body which moves along the guide rail, wherein the moving body has a substantially inverted U-shaped cross section. A moving block which is straddled on a guide rail and has annular rolling element circulation paths on both left and right leg portions, and a plurality of rolling blocks which circulate between the rolling element circulation paths of the moving block and guide rails. Rolling element circulation paths, each rolling element circulation path is formed on the guide rail side of the left and right leg-like portions of the moving block, a groove-like outward path formed to face the guide rail, and these leg-like portions In a linear motion guide device comprising a hole-shaped return path formed on the outer side in the left-right direction of the outward path and a reversing path formed at both front and rear ends of the moving block and connecting the end of the outward path and the end of the return path, But, The end cap portion of the rear ends,
And a first component member comprising a connecting portion integrally connecting the two end cap portions and forming a lower portion on the left and right sides of both leg portions of the moving block, and a forward and backward pass of the rolling element circulation path between the two end cap portions. A metal part comprising a main body part which fits into the corresponding length part, and a downwardly protruding part which is formed integrally with the main body part so as to have the same length and forms a lower part on the left and right inner sides of both leg-like parts of the moving block. And a third component which fits between both end cap portions of the first component and both ends in the front-rear direction of the second component.

[0009]

The moving block has a first component member comprising end cap portions at both front and rear ends, and a connecting portion which integrally connects the both end cap portions and forms a lower portion on the left and right sides of both leg portions of the moving block. A body portion that fits into the length portions corresponding to the forward and backward paths of the rolling element circulation path between the two end cap portions, and a body portion that is integrally formed with the body portion so as to have the same length and that is formed by both leg portions of the moving block. A second metal member formed of a downwardly projecting portion forming a lower portion on the inner side in the left-right direction, and a third member fitted between both end cap portions of the first member and both ends in the front-rear direction of the second member. Since it is made up of constituent members, the number of parts is reduced and the number of assembling steps is reduced as compared with a conventional linear guide device.

In addition, since the length of the main body portion and the downwardly projecting portion of the second component member are the same, to manufacture the second component member, the second component member comprises two portions corresponding to the main body portion and the downwardly projecting portion, respectively. It is only necessary to form a section having the same cross-sectional shape as the cross-section at the center of the length of the second component member by drawing, and then to cut this section to a predetermined length. Therefore, there is no need to perform milling.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the linear guide device in an exploded state, and FIGS. 2 to 5 show the linear guide device in an assembled state.

2 to 5, the linear guide device comprises a linear guide rail (1) and a moving body (2) moving along the guide rail.

The guide rail (1) is set in a fixed portion, for example, a shallow groove (B) formed on the upper surface of the bed (A). The guide rail (1) has a substantially trapezoidal cross section,
An inclined surface (1a), which is inclined upward and inward in the left-right direction, is formed at the upper part of each of the left and right side surfaces. One arc-shaped ball extending in the front-rear direction on the inclined surface (1a). A guide surface (3) is formed.

The moving body (2) includes a moving block (4) having a substantially inverted U-shaped cross section across the upper part of the rail (1), and a moving block (4).
A plurality of balls (rolling elements) that circulate in an annular ball circulation path (5) formed in the leg portions (7) on both the left and right sides and roll between the guide surface (3) of the rail (1) (6)

As will be described in detail below, the ball circulation path (5) is formed in the leg portions (7) on both sides of the moving block (4). On the rail (1) side of the leg-like portions (7) on both sides of the moving block (4), that is, on the inner side in the left-right direction, an arc-shaped groove-like outward path (8) facing the guide surface (3) of the rail (1) is formed. ing. Further, a hole-shaped return path (9) is formed outside the forward path (8) of the leg-shaped parts (7) on both sides of the moving block (4). A semicircular reversing path (10) connecting the end of the forward path (8) and the end of the return path (9) is formed at both front and rear ends of the moving block (4), and the forward path (8), the return path (9) and The reversal path (1
A circulation path (5) is formed by (0). Ball circulation path
The ball (6) is sealed in (5), and the ball (6) on the outward path (8) is in contact with the guide surfaces (3) on both sides of the rail (1).

The moving block (4) is constructed by combining first to third components (11), (12) and (13).

As shown in FIG. 1, the first component member (11) is integrally formed of a synthetic resin, and includes substantially inverted U-shaped end cap portions (14) at both front and rear ends. The two connecting portions (15) are formed integrally with the portion (14) and connect the left and right legs (14a) of both end cap portions (14). The connecting portion (15) forms a lower portion on the left and right sides of the left and right leg-like portions (7) of the moving block (4). Further, at the front and rear ends of the connecting portion (15), protruding portions (15a) protruding to the front and rear inner ends of the legs (14a) of the end cap portion (14) are integrally formed. The upper and lower surfaces of the protrusion (15a) are flush with the upper and lower surfaces of the connecting portion (15). Then, a predetermined length of the front and rear ends on the upper surface of the connecting portion (15),
Except for the length of (15a), it extends in the front-rear direction and opens upward and inward in the left-right direction.
6) is formed. One end of the ball guide surface (1) is attached to the front and rear ends of the connecting portion (15) and the upper surface of the protrusion (15a).
A semicircular arc groove-shaped ball guide surface (17) is formed which is continuous with the end of (6) and whose other end is opened in the front, rear, left and right sides of the protrusion (15a). In addition, the first component (1
Through holes (14b) are formed in portions of the end cap portion (14) of 1) near the left and right end portions, respectively.

The second component (12) of the moving block (4) is integrally formed of metal as a whole, and is provided on the outward path (5) of the ball circulation path (5) between the upper portions of both end cap portions (14). (8) and the return path (9), and a body (18) that fits into the length corresponding to the length of the moving block (4). It consists of two downwardly protruding portions (19) forming a lower portion on the inner side in the left-right direction among the two leg-shaped portions (7). The inner surface in the left-right direction of the downward protruding portion (19) is opposed to the inclined surface (1a) of the guide rail (1), and the ball outward path (8) is formed here. Further, screw holes (18a) which are coaxial with the through holes (14b) are formed in the front and rear end surfaces of the main body portion (18) of the second component member (12), respectively, near the left and right end portions. The second component (1
2) The main part (18) and the downward protruding part
(19), and a cross-section having the same cross-sectional shape as the central portion of the length of the second component member (12) is formed. Is cut to a predetermined length.

The third constituent member (13) of the moving block (4) is integrally formed of a synthetic resin as a whole.
It fits between the upper part of both end cap portions (14) of the component (11) and both ends in the front-rear direction of the main body portion (18) of the second component (12). Further, through holes (13a) which are coaxial with the through holes (14b) are formed near the left and right ends of the third component (13).

The first to third constituent members (11), (12) and (13)
The body part (18) of the component (12) corresponds to the forward path (8) and the return path (9) of the ball circulation path (5) between the upper parts of the end cap parts (14) before and after the first component (11). The lower projecting portion (19) fits between the projecting portions (15a) before and after the connecting portion (15), and the third component (13) is connected to the first component.
(11) Upper portions of both end cap portions (14) and the second component member
The screw (20), which is assembled so as to fit between the front and rear ends of the body portion (18) of (12), and passes through both through holes (14b) (13a), is inserted into the screw hole (18a). It is fixed by screwing. As a result, the lower surface of the third component (13) comes into contact with the upper surface of the connecting portion (15) and the protruding portion (15a), and the left and right outer surfaces of the downward protruding portion (19) become the left and right inner surfaces of the connecting portion (15). , And the front and rear end surfaces of the downward projecting portion (19) contact the inner surface of the projecting portion (15a) in the front and rear direction. The lower surface of the downward projecting portion (19) is exposed below both leg-like portions (7) of the moving block (4), and is flush with the lower surface of the connecting portion (15). And
Linear ball guide surface (16) of connecting part (15) and main body part
A return path (9) is formed by the lower surface of (18) and the outer surface in the left-right direction of the downwardly projecting portion (19). Furthermore, connection part (15)
The semicircular ball guide surface (17) and the lower surface of the third component (13) form an inversion path (10). And outbound
(8) and the return path (9) communicate with the reversal path (10) to form a ball circulation path (5).

When the moving block (4) moves back and forth, the ball (6) circulates in each ball circulation path (5) while rolling on the guide surface (3) of the rail (1) as follows. I do.
That is, the movement of the moving block (4) causes the circulation path (5)
Ball (6) on the outbound path (8) of the rail (1) guide surface (3)
Roll up and move behind the outbound path (8). Therefore, the ball (6) on the outgoing path (8) enters the reversing path (10) in order, and the ball (6) on the reversing path (10) enters the returning path (9) in order and returns to the returning path (9). The balls (6) that have entered enter the outbound path (8) in order.

In the above, since the reversing path (10) is formed by the semicircular ball guide surface (17) of the connecting portion (15) and the lower surface of the third component (13), the ball (6) Return direction (9) and reverse path (10), and forward path (8) and reverse path
There is little step at the boundary with (10), and the ball can be turned over smoothly.

The downwardly protruding portion (1) of the second component (12)
Since the lower surface of 9) is exposed below both leg-like portions 7 of the moving block 4, the outward path of the second component 12
The distance from the contact point between the ball (8) and the ball (6) to the lower surface of the downward projecting portion (19) can be made relatively large. Therefore, the rigidity of this portion is improved. In addition, the distance is reduced so that the rigidity of the lower part of the lower protruding part (19) is not reduced, and the lower protruding part (1
9) The distance to the lower surface can be made relatively large.
Therefore, the depth of the groove (B) can be made relatively large, and the mounting of the guide rail (1) can be performed reliably and easily.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 shows a linear guide device in an assembled state.
Indicates a second component and a third component. 6 and 7, the upper ends of the left and right outer ends of the third component (13) are integrally connected by a connecting member (21). The connecting member (21) fits into a recess (18b) formed on the left and right side edges of the upper surface of the main body (18) of the second component (12). Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, and the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the above two embodiments, balls are used as rolling elements, but rollers may be used instead of balls. The guide rail has a substantially trapezoidal cross section, but is not limited to this, and may have a rectangular shape. Furthermore, the ball guide surface (3) of the guide rail (1)
And the outward path (8) is an arc-shaped groove, but is not limited thereto, and may be formed, for example, by a Gothic arch-shaped groove, that is, a ball (6)
It may be formed of two arc surfaces having a larger radius of curvature or two planes.

[0027]

According to the linear guide device of the present invention,
As described above, the number of parts is reduced and the number of assembling steps is reduced as compared with the conventional linear guide device, so that the cost is reduced. In addition, since it is not necessary to perform milling in manufacturing the first component member, the operation is simplified and the processing cost is reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a linear guide device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the same assembled state.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the assembled state.

FIG. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the assembled state.

FIG. 5 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the assembled state.

FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway perspective view of an assembled state showing another embodiment of the linear motion guide device according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a second constituent member and a third constituent member.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Guide rail 2 Moving body 4 Moving block 5 Ball circulation path (rolling element circulation path) 6 Ball (rolling element) 7 Leg part 8 Outbound path 9 Return path 10 Inversion path 11 First component member 12 Second component member 13 Third configuration Member 14 End cap part 15 Connecting part 18 Body part 19 Downward projecting part

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Shoji Eguchi 3-5-8 Minamisenba, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-4-248018 (JP, A) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) F16C 29/00-29/06

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A vehicle comprising: a linear guide rail; and a moving body that moves along the guide rail.
A moving block having a substantially inverted U-shaped cross section and straddling the guide rail, and having a circular rolling element circulation path in each of the left and right leg-shaped portions, and a guide rail circulating through each rolling element circulation path of the moving block. And a plurality of rolling elements that roll between the rolling elements, each rolling element circulating path is formed in a groove-like shape formed on the guide rail side of the left and right leg-like portions of the moving block so as to face the guide rail. A straight path comprising a forward path, a hole-shaped return path formed on the outer side of the forward path of these leg-shaped portions in the left and right direction, and a reverse path formed at both front and rear ends of the moving block and connecting the end of the forward path and the end of the return path. In the dynamic guide device, the moving block includes a first end cap portion at each of the front and rear ends, and a first connecting portion that integrally connects the two end cap portions and forms a lower portion on the left and right outer sides of both leg portions of the moving block. A component part, a main body part that fits into a length part corresponding to the forward path and the return path of the rolling element circulation path between the two end cap parts, and a body part integrally formed with the main body part so as to have the same length, and A second metal component made of a downwardly projecting portion that forms a lower portion on the inner side in the left-right direction of the two leg-shaped portions, and between both end cap portions of the first component and both ends in the front-rear direction of the second component. A linear motion guide device comprising a third component that fits therein.