JP4657976B2 - Linear motion guidance unit - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a linear motion guide unit in which a slider slides on a track rail.

A conventional linear motion guide unit will be described with reference to FIGS.
The linear motion guide unit shown in FIG. 8 includes a pair of sliders S1 and a pair of track rails R1 to which the sliders S1 are assembled. As shown in FIG. Rolling grooves 2 and 2 formed of concave portions are formed on both side surfaces, and hole-like return paths 3 and 3 communicating with the rolling grooves 2 and 2 are formed. The rolling grooves 2 and 2 and the return paths 3 and 3 constitute an infinite circulation path via a direction change path (not shown) formed in the end cap, and a plurality of rolling elements 4 are included in the infinite circulation path. Holding.

On the other hand, the track rail R1 has a U-shaped cross section, and its inner width is slightly larger than the width of the slider S1. When the slider S1 is assembled in the track rail R1, a pair of raceway grooves 5 and 5 are formed of concave portions at the positions of the side surfaces facing the rolling grooves 2 and 2 of the slider S1. Therefore, when the slider S1 is incorporated in the track rail R1, the rolling element 4 is interposed between the rolling grooves 2 and 2 and the raceway grooves 5 and 5, and the rolling element 2 is rolled between the rolling groove 2 and the raceway groove 5. The moving body 4 rolls to enable smooth relative movement between the slider S1 and the track rail R1.
Although not described in detail, the slider S1 is provided with a rolling element holding band (not shown) so that the rolling element 4 does not fall out of the rolling groove 2 even if the slider S1 is detached from the track rail R1. .

The linear motion guide unit configured as described above is used in, for example, the apparatus shown in FIG. In this apparatus, a pair of track rails R1 and R1 are arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval, and a space for performing a machining operation, that is, a machining hole A is positioned between the pair of track rails R1 and R1. . The pair of track rails R1 and R1 are fixed to the mounting bases 8 and 8 by inserting bolts 7 through mounting holes 6 formed in the vicinity of both ends, and sliders S1 and S1 are mounted on the pair of track rails R1 and R1. Is incorporated. As described above, when the sliders S1 and S1 are assembled on the track rails R1 and R1, a table (not shown) is placed on the pair of sliders S1 and S1, and a work is placed on the tables.
If the slider S1 is slid along the track rail R1 and the workpiece is moved to a predetermined position, various operations can be continuously performed on the workpiece from the machining hole A.
As shown in the figure, in this device, the track rail R1 is sandwiched between the mounting bases 8 and 8 so that both ends are supported. There is no particular problem in strength.
Reality 6-004092

In the above linear motion guide unit, when the slider S1 is attached to or detached from the track rail R1, the slider S1 must be assembled or removed by sliding from the end surface in the axial direction of the track rail R1. That is, in the conventional linear motion guide unit, the attaching / detaching direction of the slider S1 is equal to the axial direction of the track rail R1. This is because the rolling element 4 held by the slider S1 is positioned so as to protrude toward the track groove 5 of the track rail R1 as described above, and the slider S1 is incorporated from above the track rail R1 due to the presence of the rolling element 4. It is because it is not possible.
For this reason, as shown in FIG. 10, in the mechanical device in which the track rail R1 is disposed so as to be sandwiched between the pair of mounting bases 8 and 8, the track rail R1 is mounted in a state in which the slider S1 is previously incorporated in the track rail R1. Must be fixed to the base 8,8. Further, when removing the slider S1 from the track rail R1 fixed to the mounting bases 8, 8, the entire track rail R1 must be removed from the mounting bases 8, 8.

  Therefore, when removing the slider S1 from the track rail R1 in order to clean the track rail R1 or repair the slider S1, first remove the track rail R1 from the mounting bases 8 and 8 and then There is a problem that the slider S1 must be removed from the track rail R1, and maintenance such as cleaning and repair becomes very troublesome.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a linear motion guide unit in which a slider can be attached and detached while a track rail is fixed to a mechanical device.

In the first invention, an infinite circulation path is provided by rolling grooves and return paths formed on both side surfaces, a slider for holding a plurality of rolling elements in the infinite circulation path, and the rolling grooves are opposed to each other. with respectively formed on both sides and consists of a track rail having a formed raceway groove between the upper surface-side convex portion and the bottom-side protrusion, rolling between the rolling groove and the raceway groove a moving body by rolling the linear motion guide unit in which the slider slides the track rail, on both sides of the track rail, the away portion outright by notching the upper side projecting portion to the deepest of the raceway groove And forming the bottom surface side convex portion of the raceway groove, making the notch portions face each other, and making the axial length of the notch portion longer than the axial length of the slider, Notch Having said Luo said slider in that a detachable in a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of the track rail.
The second invention is characterized in that the notch is provided at one end or both ends in the axial direction of the track rail.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the upper surface convex portions are notched to the deepest portion of the raceway groove on both side surfaces of the track rail to form a notch portion, and the slider is perpendicular to the axial direction of the track rail in the notch portion. Alternatively, the slider can be attached / detached even when the track rail is fixed to the mounting base because it can be attached / detached in a substantially orthogonal direction. Therefore, it is not necessary to remove the track rail from the mounting base during maintenance such as cleaning or repair, and labor during maintenance work can be saved.
According to the second invention, since the notch is provided at the end of the track rail in the axial direction, a sufficient sliding stroke of the slider can be ensured.

A reference example of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, the slider which comprises the linear motion guide unit of this reference example is the same as that of the said conventional slider. Therefore, the same configuration as the conventional one will be described with the same reference numerals.
The linear motion guide unit of the reference example includes a slider S1 and a track rail R2, and the casing body 1 constituting the slider S1 has rolling grooves 2 and 2 formed of concave portions on both side surfaces thereof. Hole-shaped return paths 3 and 3 communicating with the rolling grooves 2 and 2 are formed (see FIG. 9). The rolling grooves 2 and 2 and the return paths 3 and 3 constitute an endless circulation path, and a plurality of rolling elements 4 made of balls are held in the endless circulation path.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, the track rail R2 has a U-shaped cross section, and includes a bottom surface 9 and side walls 10 and 10 standing upright from both ends of the bottom surface 9 in the width direction. , 10 is slightly larger than the width of the slider S1. The side walls 10 and 10 are formed with a pair of raceway grooves 11 and 11 formed of concave portions at positions facing the rolling grooves 2 and 2 of the slider S1 when the slider S1 is incorporated. Therefore, when the slider S1 is incorporated in the track rail R2, the rolling element 4 is interposed between the rolling groove 2 and the raceway groove 11, and the rolling element 4 is rolled between the rolling groove 2 and the raceway groove 11. As a result, the slider S1 and the track rail R2 can smoothly move relative to each other.
Although not described in detail, the slider S1 is provided with a rolling element holding band (not shown) so that the rolling element 4 does not fall out of the rolling groove 2 even if the slider S1 is detached from the track rail R2. .

  Further, in the vicinity of both ends in the axial direction of the track rail R 2, mounting holes 12 and 12 are formed on the bottom surface 9, and a notch 13 is formed on one side wall 10. The notch 13 is formed by cutting a part of one side wall 10. The cut length L2 of the notch 13 is slightly longer than the axial length L1 of the slider S1. is doing. In the notch 13, the track groove 11 is naturally cut off, so that the slider S1 cannot slide smoothly on the track rail R2.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the linear motion guide unit having the above-described configuration has a bolt inserted into mounting holes 12 and 12 formed in the vicinity of both ends of the track rail R2, and mounting of a mechanical device using this linear motion guide unit. Secure to the base 14. In this linear motion guide unit, the slider S1 is positioned on the sliding locus from the cutout portion 13 in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the track rail R2, that is, from one side wall 10 side. As described above, when the slider S1 is positioned on the sliding locus from the notch 13, the slider S1 can be incorporated on the track rail R2 by sliding the slider S1 along the track rail R2. .

Then, a table (not shown) is installed between the pair of sliders S1, and a workpiece is placed on the table and slid on the track rail R2 within a range not reaching the cutout portion 13. Can move to a predetermined position and continuously perform various operations.
Thus, according to the linear motion guide unit of the reference example , since the slider S1 can be attached and detached in the notch 13 in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the track rail R2, the track rail R2 is attached to the mounting base 14. The slider S1 can be attached and detached even when it is fixed. Therefore, it is not necessary to remove the track rail R2 from the mounting base 14 at the time of maintenance such as cleaning and repair, and the labor during maintenance work can be saved.

However, in the above reference example , the notch 13 is provided in the vicinity of the center in the axial direction of the track rail R2 for convenience of explanation, but in actuality, as shown in FIG. It is desirable to provide it. Thus, if the notch part 13 is provided in the axial direction edge part of track rail R2, the sliding stroke of slider S1 can fully be ensured.

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the linear motion guide unit of the first embodiment is different only in the configuration of the notch portion provided in the track rail in the reference example , and the other configurations and operations are all the same as those in the reference example . Therefore, only differences from the reference example will be described here.
FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of the track rail R3 constituting the linear motion guide unit in the first embodiment. The slider that slides on the track rail R3 is a slider S1 having the same configuration as that of the reference example .
The track rail R3 has a U-shaped cross section, and includes a bottom surface 15 and side walls 16 and 16 that stand at right angles from both ends of the bottom surface 15 in the width direction. It is slightly larger than the width.

Further, on the side walls 16 and 16 of the track rail R3, when the slider S1 is incorporated, a pair of raceway grooves 17 and 17 formed of concave portions are formed at positions facing the rolling grooves 2 and 2 of the slider S1. . Of the side walls 16, 16, a portion that protrudes from the deepest portion of the raceway grooves 17, 17 to the opposite surface side, and that is located on the opposite side of the bottom surface 15 across the raceway grooves 17, 17. Is a top surface side convex portion 18, and a portion located on the bottom surface side from the raceway groove 17 is a bottom surface side convex portion 19.
An attachment hole 20 is formed in the bottom surface 15 of the track rail R3 having the above-described configuration, and notches 21 and 21 are provided in the side walls 16 and 16, respectively.

The notches 21 and 21 are formed by cutting the upper surface side protrusions 18 and 18 to the deepest part of the raceway grooves 17 and 17, and the length of the notches 21 and 21 is the length of the slider S1. It is slightly longer than the axial length.
Therefore, if the slider S1 is inserted into the track rail R3 from the notches 21 and 21, and the slider S1 is positioned on the sliding locus, the slider S1 can be incorporated on the track rail R3. In the cutout portion 21, the raceway groove 17 is naturally cut off, so that the slider S1 cannot slide smoothly on the track rail R3. Therefore, the notches 21 and 21 are formed outside the effective sliding range of the slider S1.
As described above, also in the linear motion guide unit of the first embodiment, since the slider S1 can be attached and detached in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the track rail R3, the slider S1 can be attached and detached while the track rail R3 is fixed to the mounting base. can do. Therefore, it is not necessary to remove the track rail R3 from the mounting base at the time of maintenance such as cleaning and repair, and the labor during maintenance work can be saved.

A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The linear motion guide unit of the illustrated second embodiment is constituted by a slider S2 and a track rail R4. As shown in FIG. 6, the casing body 22 constituting the slider S <b> 2 includes a table portion 22 a and a pair of sleeve portions 22 b erected at right angles from both ends in the width direction of the table portion 22 a.
The pair of sleeve portions 22b are provided with rolling grooves 23 and 23 formed of concave portions on the opposing surfaces thereof, and hole-like return paths 24 and 24 communicating with the rolling grooves 23 and 23, respectively. The rolling grooves 23 and 23 and the return paths 24 and 24 constitute an infinite circulation path, and a plurality of rolling elements 25 and 25 made of balls are held in the infinite circulation path.

  On the other hand, the track rail R4 has a rectangular cross section, and its width is slightly smaller than the distance between the pair of sleeve portions 22b, 22b in the slider S2. Further, on the side surface of the track rail R4, raceway grooves 26, 26 made of concave portions are formed at positions facing the rolling grooves 23, 23 when straddling the slider S2. Therefore, when the slider S2 is straddled over the track rail R4, a plurality of rolling elements 25 are interposed between the rolling grooves 23 and 23 and the raceway grooves 26 and 26, and the rolling groove 23 and the raceway groove 26 are separated from each other. By rolling the rolling element 25 between them, the slider S2 and the track rail R4 can be smoothly moved relative to each other. In the track rail R4, a portion that protrudes closer to the sleeve portion 22b of the slider S2 than the deepest portion of the track grooves 26 and 26 and that is positioned closer to the table portion 22a than the track grooves 26 and 26 is an upper surface side. Projections 27 and 27 are provided, and portions located on the opposite side of the table portion 22a with the raceway grooves 26 and 26 interposed therebetween are referred to as bottom surface projections 28 and 28, respectively. Although not described in detail, the slider S2 is provided with a rolling element holding band (not shown) so that the rolling element 25 is not dropped from the rolling groove 23 even if the slider S2 is detached from the track rail R4. .

As shown in FIG. 7, the track rail R4 has mounting holes 29, 29 formed in the vicinity of both ends in the axial direction, and is fixed to a mounting base of a mechanical device (not shown) using this linear motion guide unit with bolts. I have to.
Further, a notch 30 is provided at one end of the track rail R4. The cutout portion 30 is formed by cutting the upper surface side convex portions 27, 27 to the deepest portion of the raceway grooves 26, 26, and the length L3 of the cutout portions 30, 30 is set in the axial direction of the slider S2. It is slightly longer than the length L4.
Therefore, in the notches 30 and 30, if the slider S2 is positioned on the sliding track across the slider S2 from above the track rail R4, and the slider S2 is slid along the track rail R4, the slider S2 is moved. It can be incorporated on the track rail R4.

As described above, also in the linear motion guide unit of the second embodiment, the slider S2 can be attached and detached in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the track rail R4. Therefore, the slider S2 can be attached and detached while the track rail R4 is fixed to the mounting base. can do. Therefore, it is not necessary to remove the track rail R4 from the mounting base at the time of maintenance such as cleaning and repair, and the labor during maintenance work can be saved.
In the reference example, the first embodiment, and the second embodiment , a ball is used as a rolling element. However, the rolling element may be configured by rollers.
The slider mounting / removal direction is a direction orthogonal to the track rail axial direction, but this mounting / removal direction and the track rail axial direction do not have to be strictly orthogonal, but are substantially orthogonal. It does not matter.

It is a figure which shows the linear motion guide unit in a reference example . It is a diagram obtained by fixing the linear motion guide unit in reference example to mount. It is the elements on larger scale of the track rail of a reference example . It is the elements on larger scale of the track rail of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the linear motion guide unit in 2nd Embodiment. It is the VV sectional view taken on the line in FIG. It is a figure which shows the track rail of 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the conventional linear motion guide unit. It is the IX-IX sectional view taken on the line in FIG. It is the figure which fixed the conventional linear motion guide unit to the mount.

Explanation of symbols

2, 23 Rolling groove 3, 24 Return path 4, 25 Rolling element 5, 11, 17, 26 Track groove 13, 21, 30 Notch S1, S2 Slider R1, R2, R3, R4 Track rail

Claims (2)

An infinite circulation path is provided by rolling grooves and return paths formed on both side surfaces, a slider for holding a plurality of rolling elements in the infinite circulation path, and both side surfaces facing the rolling grooves , respectively. and forming consists of a track rail having a formed raceway groove between the upper surface-side convex portion and the bottom-side protrusion, by rolling the rolling elements between the rolling groove and the raceway groove in the linear motion guide unit in which the slider slides the track rail, on both sides of the track rail, the top surface-side protrusion to form a-outs outright by notching the deepest of the raceway groove, the raceway is left to bottom-side projections of the grooves, along with to face to each other the cutout portion, the axial length of the cutout portion is longer than the length in the axial direction of the slider, the slide from the notch Linear motion guide unit was detachable in a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of the track rail.   2. The linear motion guide unit according to claim 1, wherein the notch is provided at one end or both ends in the axial direction of the track rail.

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