JP4934496B2 - Lubricant supply device and motion guide device with lubricant supply device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a lubricant supply device that applies a lubricant to a track member in association with a relative movement of a moving member with respect to the track member, and a motion guide device to which the lubricant supply device is mounted.

  As a mechanical element for guiding a linear motion or a curved motion of a guide object such as a table, a motion guide device in which rolling elements such as balls and rollers are interposed in a guide portion is known. Since it can move lightly, it is used in various fields such as robots, machine tools, semiconductor / liquid crystal manufacturing equipment, and medical equipment.

  When using the motion guide device, it is necessary to lubricate the rolling element rolling part and the rolling element in which the rolling element rolls. This is because when the oil is left unlubricated, wear of the rolling element rolling part and the rolling element increases, resulting in an early life.

  The most common method of supplying the lubricant to the motion guide device is a method of periodically supplying grease from a grease nipple provided in the moving block using a grease gun. However, lubrication with a grease gun is a maintenance work for the user after the motion guide device is incorporated into the machine. Regular lubrication using a grease gun is a burden on the user and may not be actually performed.

  In order to facilitate the user's maintenance work, the applicant has proposed a lubricant supply device that can greatly extend the maintenance interval (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The lubricant supply device includes an application unit that applies the lubricant to the raceway member, a lubricant storage unit that supplies the lubricant to the application unit, and an amount of the lubricant that is supplied from the lubricant storage unit to the application unit. An oil amount adjusting plate to be adjusted. As the moving block moves, the application portion moves while contacting the rolling element rolling portion of the track member, so that the lubricant is applied to the track member. When the lubricant absorbed in the application part decreases, a small amount of lubricant is supplied from the lubricant storage part to the application part by capillary action. Since a trace amount of lubricant can be applied to the track member over a long period of time, the maintenance interval can be greatly extended.

However, even if it can be said that the maintenance interval can be extended, there will come a time when the lubricant supply device cannot be lubricated. In order to facilitate replacement of the lubricant supply device, the applicant houses the application unit, the lubricant storage unit, and the oil amount adjustment plate in the cartridge, and attaches and removes the cartridge to the case body attached to the moving block. A lubricant supply device that can be used has been proposed (see Patent Document 2).
JP-A-10-184683 (refer to claim 1) JP 2004-3544 A (refer to claim 1)

  The extent to which the lubricant supply device can continue to apply a small amount of lubricant actually depends on the use situation of the user's motion guide device. It is difficult for the user of the motion guide device to accurately grasp the replacement time of the lubricant supply device. For this reason, although the lubricant is sufficiently absorbed in the application part and the lubricant storage part, the application part and the lubricant storage part are exchanged, and conversely, the lubricant is added to the application part and the lubricant storage part. Even if there is no such thing, the application unit and the lubricant storage unit may not be replaced.

  In addition, manufacturers of motion guide devices adjust the degree of contact of the track member of the application portion of the lubricant supply device and ship it to the user. This is to adjust the balance between the friction between the application part and the race member and the amount of lubricant supplied from the application part to the race member. If the application unit can be replaced by a user's maintenance work as in the lubricant supply device described in Patent Document 2, the application unit may be damaged when the replaced application unit is applied to the track member.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a lubricant supply device that can facilitate a user's maintenance work and a motion guide device incorporating the lubricant supply device.

  The present invention will be described below. In addition, in order to make an understanding of this invention easy, the reference number of an accompanying drawing is attached in parenthesis writing, However, This invention is not limited to the form of illustration.

In order to solve the above problems, the invention described in claim 1 is to supply a lubricant for applying a lubricant to the track member (1) as the moving member (2) moves relative to the track member (1). A device (8), an application part (12) for applying a lubricant to the raceway member (1), and a case side lubricant storage part (16) for storing a lubricant to be supplied to the application part (12). ) And a case main body (14) attached to the moving member (2), and a detachably attached to the case main body (14) and storing the lubricant to be supplied to the application section (12) A cartridge (15) having a cartridge-side lubricant reservoir (18), and when the cartridge (15) is attached to the case body (14), the application from the case-side lubricant reservoir (16) part (12) with can supply lubricant to the can supply lubricant to the coating section (12) from the cartridge-side lubricant reservoir (18), the coating The part (12) is made of an occlusion body having a low porosity that can be impregnated with a lubricant, and the cartridge-side lubricant storage part (18) can be impregnated with a lubricant and has a higher porosity than the application part (12). The applicator (12) is provided with a joint (12a) that contacts the cartridge-side lubricant reservoir (18), and the case body (14) has the cartridge (15). Is attached to the case body (14), the cartridge-side lubricant reservoir (18) supports the joint (12a) so that the joint (12a) of the application part (12) can be contacted. A receiving part (21a) is provided, and the application part (12) is sandwiched between the plurality of case-side lubricant storage parts (16) arranged in the longitudinal direction of the raceway member (1), and the application part ( The joint portion (12a) of 12) protrudes in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the track member (1) from the case-side lubricant storage portion (16), and the cart The ridge (15) is a lubricant supply device attached to the case body (14) from a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the track member (1) .

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the lubricant supply device (8) according to the first aspect, the application unit (12), the cartridge side lubricant storage unit (18), and the case side lubricant storage unit (16) is composed of an occlusion body having a gap that can be impregnated with a lubricant, and the porosity of the cartridge-side lubricant storage section (18) and the case-side lubricant storage section (16) is the application section (12) And the porosity of the cartridge-side lubricant reservoir (18) is equal to the porosity of the case-side lubricant reservoir (16) or the case-side lubricant reservoir ( It is characterized by being higher than the porosity of 16).

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the lubricant supply device (8) according to the first or second aspect, the case body (14) is provided with a convex portion or a concave portion (20a), and the cartridge (15 ) Is provided with a concave portion or a convex portion (15a) that can be fitted into the convex portion or the concave portion (20a) of the case body (14), and the concave portion or the convex portion of the cartridge (15) ( The cartridge (15) is attached to the case main body (14) by fitting 15a) into the convex portion or the concave portion (20a) of the case main body (14).

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the lubricant supply device (8) according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the track member (1) is moved relative to the track member (1). A motion guide device with a lubricant supply device, which is mounted on a motion guide device comprising a member (2).

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the travel distance of the motion guide device can be extended by exchanging the cartridge having the cartridge-side lubricant reservoir, maintenance work can be facilitated. In addition, since the lubricant can be supplied to the application unit from the two systems of the case side lubricant storage unit and the cartridge side lubricant storage unit, even if the lubricant stored in the cartridge side lubricant storage unit runs out, it remains auxiliary. The lubricant can be supplied from the case side lubricant storage part to the application part, and even if there is no lubricant stored in the case side lubricant storage part, the remaining cartridge side lubricant storage part is supplementarily supplied. A lubricant can be supplied to the application part. Therefore, the maintenance of the lubricant supply device that makes it difficult to accurately grasp the replacement time becomes easy.
Since the lubricant is impregnated in the occlusion body having a gap, for example, even if the lubricant supply device is turned upside down, the lubricant can be supplied from the cartridge-side lubricant storage unit to the application unit. Further, when the cartridge is attached to the case body, the receiving part of the case body supports the joint part of the application part, so that the cartridge-side lubricant storage part can be reliably brought into contact with the joint part of the application part.
After increasing the capacity of the case-side lubricant storage unit, the lubricant can be supplied also from the cartridge-side lubricant storage unit to the application unit.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the lubricant of the application unit is supplied from the case-side lubricant storage unit and the cartridge-side lubricant storage unit using the capillary phenomenon, the cartridge-side lubricant storage unit Lubricant can be supplied to the application unit with priority over the case-side lubricant storage unit. For this reason, even if the timing for replacing the cartridge is delayed, the lubricant can be supplementarily supplied from the case-side lubricant storage unit to the application unit.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the case body with one touch without using screws or tools. For example, when a motion guide device is incorporated in a linear motor, if the screw or tool is dropped, the screw or tool may enter the linear motor due to magnetic force.

  FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a motion guide apparatus in a first embodiment of the present invention. The motion guide device includes a track rail 1 that is a track member, and a moving block 2 that is a moving member that slides along the track rail 1. The track rail 1 is attached to a base (not shown), and the moving block 2 is attached to a counterpart component that is a guide target. A ball 3 as a rolling element is interposed between the track rail 1 and the moving block 2 so as to be able to roll.

  The track rail 1 is made of steel and elongated in a straight line. For example, two ball rolling grooves 1a extending in the longitudinal direction are processed as rolling element rolling portions at both left and right end portions of the upper surface of the track rail 1. For example, two ball rolling grooves 1a extending in the longitudinal direction are processed as rolling element rolling portions also at the upper ends of the left and right side surfaces of the track rail 1. That is, in this embodiment, a total of four ball rolling grooves 1a are processed. The cross-sectional shape of the ball rolling groove 1a is a circular arch groove shape composed of a single arc or a Gothic arch groove shape composed of two arcs. The number of strips of the ball rolling groove 1a, the contact angle between the ball rolling groove 1a and the ball 3, and the like are variously set according to the load of the motion guide device. A plurality of attachment holes 1b for fixing the track rail 1 to the base are formed in the center of the track rail 1 in the width direction.

  A moving block 2 is assembled to the track rail 1. The moving block 2 is formed in a bowl shape as a whole, and includes a steel moving block body 4 and resin end plates 5 provided at both ends of the moving block body 4 in the moving direction.

  The moving block main body 4 has a central portion 4 a that faces the upper surface of the track rail 1 and a pair of leg portions 4 b that hang downward from both sides in the width direction of the central portion 4 a corresponding to the side surfaces of the track rail 1. A total of four loaded ball rolling grooves 2a facing the ball rolling grooves 1a of the track rail 1 are formed inside the moving block body 4 as load rolling element rolling portions. Two load ball rolling grooves 2a are formed at the center of the moving block body 4, and one load ball rolling groove 2a is formed at each of the pair of legs. On the upper surface of the central portion 4a of the moving block body 4, a threaded portion 2b for attaching the moving block 2 to the counterpart part is processed.

  The moving block body 4 is also provided with a ball returning path 2c that penetrates in the moving direction of the moving block body 4 as a rolling element return path. The ball return passage 2c extends linearly in parallel with the loaded ball rolling groove 2a. In the moving block body 4, four ball return passages 2c having the same number as the loaded ball rolling grooves 2a are opened. The load ball rolling groove 2a extending in parallel and the ball return passage 2c are connected by a U-shaped direction changing path 2d (see FIG. 2). The R piece 7 on the inner peripheral side of the direction changing path 2d is formed integrally with the moving block body 4 by resin molding.

  Each of the pair of end plates 5 attached to both end surfaces of the moving block body 4 in the moving direction includes a center portion 5a facing the upper surface of the track rail 1 and a width direction of the center portion 5a corresponding to the side surface of the track rail 1. A pair of legs 5b that hang downward from both sides. The end plate 5 is formed with the outer peripheral side of the U-shaped direction change path 2d.

  A circuit-shaped ball circulation path is constituted by the loaded ball rolling groove 2a, the ball return path 2c, and the U-shaped direction changing path 2d (see FIG. 2). A plurality of balls 3 are arranged in the ball circulation path. The plurality of balls 3 may be held in series by a belt-like retainer 9.

  As shown in FIG. 2, when the moving block 2 is moved relative to the track rail 1, a plurality of balls 3 interposed therebetween roll and move. The ball 3 that has rolled to one end of the loaded ball rolling groove 2a of the moving block 2 is scooped up by the scooping portion of the end plate 5 and guided into the direction change path 2d. The ball 3 whose traveling direction is reversed by the direction changing path 2d enters the ball return path 2c. In the ball return path 2 c, the ball 3 moves while being pushed by the subsequent ball 3. The ball 3 that has passed through the ball return path 2c passes through the opposite direction change path 2d and then enters between the track rail 1 and the moving block 2 again.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a lubricant supply device 8 is attached to the end surface of the end plate 5. The lubricant supply device 8 may be attached to each of the pair of end plates 5, or may be attached to one end plate 5. The lubricant supply device 8 is provided with an application unit 12 that contacts each of the plurality of ball rolling grooves 1 a of the track rail 1. The application unit 12 applies a lubricant to the ball rolling groove 1 a as the moving block 2 moves relative to the track rail 1.

  An end seal 10 is attached to the end face of the lubricant supply device 8 (end face in the longitudinal direction of the track rail 1). The end seal 10 has an opening that matches the cross-sectional shape of the track rail 1. The end seal 10 removes foreign matter adhering to the track rail 1 and prevents entry into the moving block 2. The lubricant supply device 8 and the end seal 10 are fixed to the end plate 5 by bolts 11.

  When it is desired to supply the lubricant twice using the grease gun, through holes 8a and 10b for inserting the grease gun into the lubricant supply device 8 and the end seal 10 may be opened. If the through holes 8a and 10b are opened, the grease can be supplied to the end plate 5 using a grease gun.

  FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the lubricant supply device 8. The lubricant supply device 8 includes a case main body 14 attached to the moving block 2 and a cartridge 15 detachably attached to the case main body 14. The case body 14 is provided with an application unit 12 that applies a lubricant to the track rail 1 and a case-side lubricant storage unit 16 that stores a lubricant to be supplied to the application unit 12. The cartridge 15 is provided with a cartridge-side lubricant storage unit 18 in which the lubricant supplied to the application unit 12 is stored.

  FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the lubricant supply device 8. A space for accommodating the application unit 12 and the case-side lubricant storage unit 16 is opened inside the case body 14. The application unit 12 and the case-side lubricant storage unit 16 are both made of an occlusion body. The occlusion body is a material that has a cavity that can be impregnated with a lubricant and that is connected to the cavity, such as felt, foam rubber, foamed sintered resin, sintered metal, and sintered ceramic. The porosity of the application part 12 is lower than the porosity of the case-side lubricant storage part 16. In other words, the density of the application part 12 is larger than the density of the case-side lubricant storage part 16. This is because the lubricant is supplied from the case-side lubricant storage unit 16 to the application unit 12 by capillary action. The application unit 12 and the case-side lubricant storage unit 16 are impregnated with a lubricant.

  In this embodiment, two application parts 12 are provided corresponding to the left and right side surfaces of the track rail 1. This application part 12 contacts the ball rolling groove 1 a of the track rail 1. Each application part 12 is sandwiched between two case-side lubricant storage parts 16 arranged in the longitudinal direction of the track rail 1. A total of four case-side lubricant reservoirs 16 are provided.

  FIG. 5 is a front view of the application unit 12. In this embodiment, the application part 12 consists of felt having a constant thickness. For example, a wool felt having a porosity of about 50% is used for the felt of the application unit 12. The application unit 12 includes a joint part 12a that contacts the cartridge-side lubricant storage part 18 and the case-side lubricant storage part 16, a main body part 12b that curves according to the corners of the track rail 1, a joint part 12a, and a main body part. And a neck portion 12c having a narrowed diameter for connecting to 12b. The joining portion 12a is formed in a substantially T shape. A portion where the lateral width of the joint portion 12 a is increased is a portion that contacts the cartridge-side lubricant storage portion 18, and a narrow portion of the joint portion 12 a is a portion that contacts the case-side lubricant storage portion 16. And the cartridge side lubricant storage part 18 contacts the upper surface of the junction part 12a, and the case side lubricant storage part 16 contacts the front surface and back surface of the junction part 12a. The wide width portion of the joint portion 12a is supported by the receiving portion 21a (see FIG. 10) of the case body 14 so that the joint portion 12a does not fall when the cartridge-side lubricant storage portion 18 comes into contact.

  FIG. 6 shows a front view of the case-side lubricant storage unit 16. In this embodiment, the case-side lubricant storage unit 16 is made of felt having a certain thickness that is thicker than the application unit 12. For example, rayon + wool felt having a porosity of 80% is used for the felt of the case-side lubricant storage unit 16. The front shape of the case-side lubricant storage unit 16 substantially matches the front shape of the space 14 a of the case body 14. The larger the volume of the case-side lubricant storage unit 16, the larger the amount of lubricant that can be stored.

  7 to 9 show the case main body 14. 7 shows a perspective view of the case main body 14, FIG. 8 shows a front view of the case main body 14, and FIG. 9 shows the case main body 14 in which the application part 12 and the case-side lubricant storage part 16 are accommodated. Similar to the end plate 5, the case main body 14 includes a central portion 14 b that faces the upper surface of the track rail 1, and a pair of legs that hang downward from both sides in the width direction of the central portion 14 b corresponding to the side surfaces of the track rail 1. 14c. A space 14 a for accommodating the application part 12 and the case-side lubricant storage part 16 is opened in the leg part 14 c of the case body 14. A space 28 in which the application part 12 is accommodated and a space 13 in which the case-side lubricant storage part 16 is accommodated are separated by a partition wall 17. The application part 12 is accommodated between the inner wall 19 of the case body 14 and the partition wall 17. The inner wall 19 has a portion 19a that is interrupted on the way. When the application part 12 is accommodated in the case main body 14, the application piece 12d (refer FIG. 5) of the application part 12 protrudes from this interrupted part 19a. An upper portion of the partition wall 17 also has an interrupted portion 17a, and the neck portion 12c of the application portion 12 is accommodated in the interrupted portion 17a.

  A pair of opposing walls 20 are formed on the upper portion of the leg portion 14 c of the case body 14. The cartridge 15 is inserted between the pair of opposing walls 20. Each of the pair of opposing walls 20 is formed with a recess 20 a extending in the longitudinal direction of the track rail 1. A convex portion 15a (see FIG. 4) formed on the side surface of the cartridge 15 is fitted into the concave portion.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a guide groove 20 b extending in the vertical direction (direction in which the cartridge 15 is attached to the case body 14) is provided on the opposing wall 20 of the case body 14, and the guide that fits in the guide groove 20 b is formed on the side surface of the cartridge 15. A protrusion 15b may be provided.

  As shown in FIG. 7, two insertion holes 21 into which the cylindrical portion 15 c (see FIG. 4) of the cartridge 15 is inserted are opened in the central portion 14 b of the case body 14. As shown in FIG. 10, the bottom wall of the insertion hole 21 serves as a receiving portion 21 a that receives a wide width portion of the joint portion 12 a of the application portion 12. When the cartridge 15 is attached to the case body 14, the cartridge-side lubricant storage unit 18 presses the joint 12 a of the application unit 12 from above. Since the joining portion 12a is made of felt, it is easily deformed. By supporting the joint portion 12a of the application portion 12 with the receiving portion 21a of the case body 14, the joint portion 12a is deformed, and the delivery of the lubricant is prevented from being interrupted by the cartridge-side lubricant storage portion 18 and the joint portion 12a. be able to.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the case-side lubricant storage unit 16, the application unit 12, and the case-side lubricant storage unit 16 are sequentially inserted into a space 14 a that is hollowed out in the case main body 14. The application unit 12 is sandwiched between the two case-side lubricant storage units 16, and the joint 12 a of the application unit 12 contacts the two case-side lubricant storage units 16. As shown in FIG. 4, the space 14 a of the case body 14 is closed with a lid 23. The lid 23 is screwed to the case body 14. The lid 23 is provided with an air hole 23a for making the pressure inside the case body 14 equal to the outside. The case body 14 in which the case-side lubricant storage unit 16 and the application unit 12 are housed is immersed in the lubricant. Since the application part 12 is accommodated in the case main body 14 covered with the lid 23, the application part 12 cannot be removed from the case main body 14 in a state where the case main body 14 is attached to the moving block 2.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a cartridge 15 is detachably attached to the case main body 14. The cartridge 15 includes a cartridge-side lubricant storage unit 18 that stores a lubricant to be supplied to the application unit 12, a cartridge body 24 in which a space for accommodating the cartridge-side lubricant storage unit 18 is formed, and an upper surface of the cartridge body 24. And a lid 25 to be attached.

  FIG. 11 shows a front view of the cartridge-side lubricant reservoir 18. In this embodiment, the cartridge-side lubricant storage unit 18 is made of felt having a constant thickness that is thicker than the application unit 12. The felt porosity of the cartridge-side lubricant storage unit 18 is equal to or greater than the porosity of the case-side lubricant storage unit 16. In this embodiment, for example, rayon + wool felt having a porosity of 80% is used for the felt of the cartridge-side lubricant storage unit 18. The front shape of the cartridge-side lubricant storage unit 18 is a T-shape. The lower end of the cartridge-side lubricant storage unit 18 contacts the application unit 12.

  FIG. 12 shows the cartridge body 24 and the lid 25. The cartridge main body 24 is formed with a T-shaped space 24 a that accommodates the cartridge-side lubricant reservoir 18. A cylindrical portion 15 c that is inserted into the insertion hole 21 of the case main body 14 is provided at the lower portion of the cartridge main body 24. Around the tube portion 15c, an O-ring 26 that closes a gap between the tube portion 15c and the insertion hole 21 is wound (see FIG. 4). The O-ring 26 prevents the lubricant in the cartridge 15 from leaking outside when the cartridge 15 is attached to the case body 14. When the cartridge-side lubricant storage unit 18 is accommodated in the cartridge 15, the lower part of the cartridge-side lubricant storage unit 18 is exposed downward from the cylindrical portion 15c.

  A convex portion 15 a extending in the longitudinal direction of the track rail 1 is formed at the lower portion of each of the pair of side surfaces of the cartridge body 24. The width W1 between the pair of convex portions 15a on the side surface of the cartridge body 24 is slightly larger than the width W2 between the pair of opposing walls 20 of the case body 14. For this reason, when the cartridge 15 is fitted between the pair of opposed walls 20 of the case body 14, the periphery of the convex portion of the cartridge 15 or the opposed walls 20 of the case body 14 is slightly elastically deformed. When the cartridge 15 is pushed in until the bottom surface of the cartridge 15 comes into contact with the upper surface of the case main body 14, the periphery of the elastically deformed convex portion of the cartridge 15 or the opposing wall 20 of the case main body 14 is restored, and the convex portion 15a of the cartridge 15 is restored. It fits into the recess 20 a of the case body 14.

  After the cartridge-side lubricant storage unit 18 is stored, the cartridge main body 24 is closed with a lid 25. The lid 25 is screwed to the cartridge body 24. The lid 25 has an air hole 25a for making the pressure inside the cartridge 15 equal to the outside. The lid 25 may be made of a transparent material so that the cartridge-side lubricant reservoir 18 inside the cartridge 15 can be seen from the outside. The cartridge 15 in which the cartridge-side lubricant storage unit 18 is stored is immersed in the lubricant.

  The lubricant absorbed by the coating unit 12, the cartridge-side lubricant storage unit 18 and the case-side lubricant storage unit 16 may be a sliding surface oil such as a sliding surface oil or a turbine oil, or a lithium-based grease or a urea-based lubricant. Grease such as grease may be used.

  FIG. 13 shows a state in which the cartridge 15 is attached to the case main body 14. As shown in (B) in the figure, the joint 12 a of the application part 12 protrudes upward (in a direction perpendicular to the track rail 1) from the case-side lubricant storage part 16. When the cartridge 15 is attached to the case main body 14, the bottom surface of the cartridge-side lubricant storage unit 18 comes into contact with the top surface of the joint portion 12 a of the application unit 12. Further, as shown in (D) in the figure, the front side and the back side 12e of the joint 12a of the application part 12 are in contact with the pair of case-side lubricant storage parts 16. It should be noted that the joint 12a of the application unit 12 does not have to be completely in contact with the cartridge-side lubricant storage unit 18 and the case-side lubricant storage unit 16, and there is a gap between them so that capillary action occurs. Also good. The application unit 12 is provided with a plurality of application pieces 12 d that protrude from the case body 14. As shown in FIG. 14, each of the plurality of application pieces 12d protrudes into the ball rolling groove 1a of the track rail 1 and contacts the ball rolling groove 1a.

  As the moving block 2 moves relative to the track rail 1, the lubricant is applied to the track rail 1 from the application unit 12. When the lubricant absorbed by the application unit 12 decreases, the lubricant is supplied from the case-side lubricant storage unit 16 to the application unit 12 by capillary action (see the arrow in FIG. 13D), and the cartridge-side lubricant. Lubricant is supplied from the storage unit 18 to the application unit 12 (see the white arrow in FIG. 13D). When the porosity of the application unit 12 is higher than the porosity of the case-side lubricant storage unit 16 and the cartridge-side lubricant storage unit 18, the capillary phenomenon works.

  When the capacity of the cartridge-side lubricant storage unit 18 is smaller than the capacity of the case-side lubricant storage unit 16 and the porosity of the cartridge-side lubricant storage unit 18 is greater than or equal to the porosity of the case-side lubricant storage unit 16, The lubricant in the cartridge-side lubricant storage unit 18 runs out first. The cartridge 15 is periodically replaced when the travel distance of the motion guide device reaches tens of thousands km or when the travel time exceeds several hours. After the cartridge 15 is replaced, the lubricant is mainly supplied from the cartridge-side lubricant storage unit 18 to the application unit 12. The case-side lubricant storage unit 16 supplementarily supplies the lubricant to the application unit 12 when the lubricant stored in the cartridge-side lubricant storage unit 18 runs out.

  Here, if the cartridge side lubricant storage unit 18 and the case side lubricant storage unit 16 are brought into contact with each other, the lubricant can be supplied from the cartridge side lubricant storage unit 18 to the case side lubricant storage unit 16.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without changing the gist of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the cartridge is arranged on the upper side of the case main body and moved in the vertical direction. However, the cartridge is arranged on the side of the case main body and moved in the horizontal direction. The cartridge may be attached or detached. In the case where the end seal is not provided, the cartridge may be arranged on the end surface side (longitudinal direction of the track rail) of the case main body, and the cartridge may be attached and detached by moving in the longitudinal direction. If the cartridge can be arranged on the end face side of the case body, the cartridge can be replaced even if the table is placed on the moving block.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the case main body and the cartridge are provided with a convex portion and a concave portion so that the cartridge can be attached and detached with one touch. However, when the motion guide device is enlarged, the cartridge may be screwed to the case main body. Good.

  Furthermore, in the said embodiment, although the occlusion body is making the absorption material absorb the lubricant as a case side lubricant storage part and a cartridge side lubricant storage part, you may use the tank which can store a lubricant.

  Further, the case-side lubricant storage unit may be exchanged, or the lubricant may be injected into the case-side lubricant storage unit later.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which a linear guide that guides a linear motion of a guidance target is used as the motion guide device has been described, but the present invention can be applied to a curved motion guide device that guides a curved motion, Applicable to ball splines and ball screws. Rollers may be used for the rolling elements instead of balls. The present invention can also be applied to a slide-type motion guide device in which no rolling element is interposed.

1 is a perspective view (including a partial cross-sectional view) of a motion guide device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Sectional view along the track rail of the motion guide device Perspective view of lubricant supply device Exploded perspective view of lubricant supply device Front view of application part Front view of case side lubricant storage Perspective view of the case body Front view of the case body Front view of the case body in which the application unit and the case-side lubricant storage unit are accommodated Detailed view showing the receiving part of the case body Front view of cartridge side lubricant storage Cross section of cartridge body and lid The figure which shows the state which attached the cartridge to the case main body ((A) in the figure shows a top view, (B) shows a front view, (C) shows a CC line sectional view of (B), ( (D) shows a cross-sectional view taken along line DD of (B)). Front view of lubricant supply device attached to track rail

Explanation of symbols

1. Track rail (track member)
2 ... Moving block (moving member)
3. Ball (rolling element)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 8 ... Lubricant supply apparatus 12 ... Application | coating part 12a ... Joint part 14 ... Case main body 15 ... Cartridge 15a ... Convex part 16 ... Case side lubricant storage part 18 ... Cartridge side lubricant storage part 20a ... Concave part 21a ... Receiving part

Claims (4)

A lubricant supply device for applying a lubricant to the track member in accordance with the relative movement of the moving member with respect to the track member,
A case body that has an application part that applies a lubricant to the track member, and a case-side lubricant storage part that stores a lubricant to be supplied to the application part, and is attached to the moving member;
A cartridge having a cartridge-side lubricant storage unit that is detachably attached to the case body and stores a lubricant to be supplied to the application unit, and
When the cartridge is attached to the case body, the lubricant can be supplied from the case-side lubricant storage unit to the application unit, and the lubricant can be supplied from the cartridge-side lubricant storage unit to the application unit ,
The application part is composed of an occlusion body having a low porosity that can be impregnated with a lubricant,
The cartridge-side lubricant storage part is made of an occlusion body that can be impregnated with a lubricant and has a higher porosity than the application part,
The application part is provided with a joint part that comes into contact with the cartridge-side lubricant storage part,
The case body is provided with a receiving portion for supporting the joint portion so that the cartridge-side lubricant storage portion can contact the joint portion of the application section when the cartridge is attached to the case body.
The application part is sandwiched between a plurality of case-side lubricant storage parts arranged in the longitudinal direction of the track member,
The joint part of the application part protrudes in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the track member from the case side lubricant storage part,
The cartridge is a lubricant supply device attached to the case body from a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the track member . The application unit, the cartridge-side lubricant storage unit, and the case-side lubricant storage unit are composed of an occlusion body having a gap that can be impregnated with a lubricant,
The porosity of the cartridge side lubricant storage part and the case side lubricant storage part is higher than the porosity of the application part,
The porosity of the cartridge-side lubricant storage unit is equal to or higher than the porosity of the case-side lubricant storage unit. The lubricant supply device according to 1. The case body is provided with a convex portion or a concave portion,
The cartridge is provided with a concave portion or a convex portion that can fit into the convex portion or the concave portion of the case body,
The lubrication according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cartridge is attached to the case main body by fitting the concave portion or the convex portion of the cartridge into the convex portion or the concave portion of the case main body. Agent supply device. The lubricant supply device according to any of claims 1 to 3, and the raceway member, a lubricant with feeder formed by mounting the motion guide device comprising: a moving member for relative movement with respect to the track member, the Exercise guidance device.

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