JP5473573B2 - Manufacturing method of rolling element assembly - Google Patents

Description

  In the present invention, a large number of rolling elements such as balls and rollers are arranged in a line and are held so as to be able to roll. The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a rolling element assembly to be used.

  As this kind of rolling element coupling body, what is disclosed by Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 9-14264 is known. Such a rolling element coupling body is configured such that a sliding contact member is interposed between each rolling element adjacent to each other, and each holding member is connected by a connecting portion along the arrangement direction of the rolling elements. It is connected in a row while being sandwiched between the sliding members.

  Such a rolling element coupling body is incorporated in, for example, an infinite circulation path of the rolling element in the linear guide device, and circulates inside the infinite circulation path together with the rolling element when the rolling element rolls on the track rail. The rolling element coupling body is formed slightly shorter than the entire length of the endless circulation path, and is incorporated in the endless circulation path without connecting both ends in an endless manner. For this reason, a pair of sliding members positioned at both ends of the rolling element coupling body are arranged so that the inner peripheral wall or the like is not caught while the both ends of the rolling element coupling body are circulating in the endless circuit. The contact member is provided with a head portion finished in a convex curved surface shape. That is, the shape of the sliding contact member located at both ends of the rolling element assembly is slightly different from the sliding contact member located between the balls.

  In addition, although the rolling element coupling body disclosed by patent document 1 uses a ball | bowl as a rolling element, the rolling element coupling body which uses the roller as a rolling element other than this is also well-known.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-14264

  Such a conventional rolling element coupling body is manufactured by injection molding of a synthetic resin. As described above, the sliding contact members positioned at both ends of the rolling element coupling body and the sliding contact positioned between the balls. Since the shape of the member is different from that of the member, it is necessary to prepare a mold corresponding to the length of the rolling element assembly required for injection molding.

  For example, in a linear guide device having an infinite circulation path of rolling elements, the number of rolling elements that roll in the infinite circulation path varies depending on the load capacity of the required load. The total length of the infinite circuit provided in is various. Therefore, if different dies are prepared for each length of the rolling element coupling body, the manufacturing cost of the rolling element coupling body is remarkably increased.

  In addition, even when a new length rolling element assembly is required, it takes a long time to produce a mold for injection molding of the rolling element assembly. It was not possible to procure the consolidated body quickly.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a subject, The place made into the objective is manufacture of the rolling element coupling body which can produce the rolling element coupling body of various length cheaply and rapidly. It is to provide a method.

  That is, the present invention relates to a rolling element coupling body that is used by being incorporated in an infinite circulation path of a rolling element comprising a load passage and a no-load passage of a rolling guide device while holding a large number of rolling elements in a row. In the manufacturing method, the rolling element coupling body is located at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the rolling element coupling body and a plurality of intermediate sliding contact portions that are interposed between the adjacent rolling elements and separate the rolling bodies. And a pair of terminal sliding contact portions having a leading end serving as a distal end of the rolling element coupling body, and the intermediate sliding contact portions and the terminal sliding contact portions. And a flexible connecting part for connecting the parts in a row.

  The manufacturing method includes a first step in which a plurality of the intermediate sliding contact portions are connected by the connecting portion and a connecting belt longer than the entire length of the infinite circulation path is molded, and the molded connection A second step of cutting the body belt to a length suitable for the infinite circulation path, and the leading portion with respect to the outwardly open surfaces of the intermediate sliding contact portions located at both ends of the cut connecting belt And a third step of re-molding the intermediate sliding contact portion into the terminal sliding contact portion.

  According to the method of the present invention configured as described above, after a long connecting belt in which a plurality of intermediate sliding contact portions are continuous at a predetermined interval is cut to a length suitable for an infinite circuit, the connection after cutting is performed. Since the intermediate sliding contact portion positioned at both ends of the body belt is subjected to injection molding again and the intermediate sliding contact portion is reshaped into the terminal sliding contact portion, a mold corresponding to the size of the rolling element, If there is a mold that re-forms the intermediate sliding contact portion to the terminal sliding contact portion, it is possible to produce rolling element assemblies of various lengths. In other words, it is not necessary to prepare a mold for forming the rolling element coupling body for each required length, and it is possible to produce rolling element coupling bodies of various lengths inexpensively and quickly. It becomes.

It is a perspective view which shows an example of embodiment of the linear guide apparatus using the rolling element coupling body of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows an example of embodiment of the rolling element coupling body to which this invention is applied. It is sectional drawing cut | disconnected along the longitudinal direction of the rolling element coupling body shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the 1st process of the manufacturing method of the rolling element coupling body of this invention. It is a figure which shows the state which cut | disconnected the coupling body belt manufactured at the 1st process in arbitrary positions. It is sectional drawing which shows the 3rd process of the manufacturing method of the rolling element coupling body of this invention.

  Hereinafter, the manufacturing method of the rolling element coupling body of this invention is demonstrated in detail using an accompanying drawing.

  FIG. 1 shows an example of a linear guide device that can use a rolling element assembly produced by the method of the present invention. This linear guide device is composed of a track rail 1 fixed to a base portion such as a bed or a column, and a slider 3 assembled to the track rail 1 through a number of rollers 2 as rolling elements, A movable body such as a table fixed to the slider 3 can be freely moved along the track rail 1.

  The track rail 1 has a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction formed in a substantially rectangular shape, and substantially V-shaped track grooves are formed on both side surfaces, and an upward inclined surface 10a that forms the track grooves and a downward direction. The inclined surface 10 b is a rolling surface of the roller 2. The track rail 1 is provided with a plurality of fixing bolt mounting holes 11 at a predetermined interval in the longitudinal direction, and the fixing bolts inserted into the mounting holes 11 are fastened to the base portion, whereby the track The rail 1 is arranged on the base portion.

  On the other hand, the slider 3 includes a slider body 4, a pair of synthetic resin lid bodies 5 fixed to both front and rear end faces in the moving direction of the slider body 4, and the lid body 5 outside the lid bodies 5. It is comprised from the sealing member 6 which seals the clearance gap between the track rails 1. The slider body 4 has a load rolling surface facing the rolling surface of the track rail 1, and the rolling surface of the track rail 1 and the load rolling surface of the slider body 4 face each other, A load rolling path of the roller 2 is configured. The roller 2 rolls on the track rail 1 while applying a load acting on the slider body 4 in the load rolling path. The slider body 4 is provided with a roller return hole in equilibrium with the load rolling passage, and the roller 2 rolls in the roller return passage in the opposite direction to the load rolling passage in an unloaded state. In the linear guide device shown in FIG. 1, a hole having a circular cross section is formed in the slider body 4, and then a synthetic resin pipe member 40 is inserted into the hole so that a roller corresponding to the shape of the roller 2 is obtained. A return passage is formed.

  The lid 5 is formed with a direction changing path that connects the load rolling path of the slider body 4 and the roller return path. The direction change path forms a substantially semicircular path, and the roller rolls on the direction change path in an unloaded state. By fixing the lid 5 to the end surface of the slider body 4, the direction changing path connects one end of the load rolling path of the slider body 4 and one end of the roller return path. That is, by fixing the pair of lids 5 to both end surfaces of the slider body 4, the slider 3 having the infinite circulation path of the roller 2 is completed.

  The roller 2 is incorporated in an infinite circulation path of the slider 3 while being arranged in a flexible rolling element coupling body 7. Therefore, when the roller 2 circulates in the endless circulation path constituted by the load rolling path, the roller return path, and the pair of direction change paths, the rolling element coupling body 7 also circulates in the endless circulation path together with the roller 2.

  2 and 3 are a perspective view and a cross-sectional view showing the rolling element coupling body 7. This rolling element coupling body 7 includes an intermediate sliding contact portion 70 interposed between the rollers 2 adjacent to each other, and end sliding contact portions 71 positioned at both ends of the rolling element coupling body 7 in the roller arrangement direction. The intermediate slidable contact portion 70 and the end slidable contact portion 71 are provided with a flexible connecting portion that is connected in a row, and is manufactured by injection molding of synthetic resin.

  The intermediate sliding contact portion 70 and the terminal sliding contact portion 71 have a seat surface 73 formed in a curved shape, and the roller 2 is held by the seat surface 73. That is, the intermediate sliding contact portion 70 has a pair of seating surfaces 73 facing the rollers 2 located on both sides, while the end sliding contact portion 71 has one seating surface 73 corresponding to the adjacent rollers 2. Yes. The roller 2 is held by the rolling element coupling body 7 so as to be held from the radial direction by a pair of seating surfaces 73. Further, the roller 2 can freely rotate while being held in the seat surface 73, and the roller 2 is in sliding contact with the seat surface of the intermediate sliding contact portion 70 or the terminal sliding contact portion 71.

  2 and 3, the intermediate sliding contact portion 70 and the terminal sliding contact portion 71 have a concave curved seat surface 73 corresponding to the outer peripheral surface of the roller 2. The intermediate sliding contact portion 70 and the end sliding contact portion 71 are not necessarily required to have such a seating surface. For example, the intermediate sliding contact portion 70 and the terminal sliding contact portion 71 may be formed in a simple flat plate shape.

  The rolling element coupling body 7 is not connected endlessly in the endless circulation path of the slider 3, and its length is set slightly shorter than the total length of the endless circulation path. For this reason, the rolling element coupling body 7 moves in the endless circulation path with the terminal sliding contact portion 71 at the head. In order to make the movement smooth, the end sliding contact portion 71 is formed with a leading end portion 74 that becomes the leading end surface of the rolling element coupling body 7. The leading portion 74 is positioned on the outward open surface opposite to the seat surface 73 in the terminal sliding contact portion 71, and is formed in a convex curved surface shape. If there is a corner on the front end surface of the rolling element coupling body 7, for example, the corner is hooked on the connecting part of the load rolling path and the direction changing path, or the connecting part of the direction changing path and the roller return path. It is conceivable that the smooth circulation of the connecting body 7 may be hindered. However, by forming a convex curved head portion 74 at the terminal sliding contact portion 71, such a catch is prevented, and the rolling element connecting body 7. It is possible to ensure a smooth circulation of

  Next, the manufacturing method of the said rolling element coupling body is demonstrated.

  In manufacturing the rolling element connecting body 7, first, a connecting body belt in which a plurality of intermediate sliding contact portions 70 are connected in a row by the connecting portions 72 is manufactured. This connector belt is manufactured by injection molding of synthetic resin using a mold. FIG. 4 shows an example of the mold 8. In this example, the mold 8 includes an upper mold 80 and a lower mold 81, and cylindrical protrusions 82 simulating the roller 2 are arranged in a row on the lower mold 81. Further, a cavity 83 corresponding to the intermediate sliding contact portion 70 is formed between the cylindrical protrusions 82, while a cavity 84 corresponding to the connecting portion 72 is formed on the back side and the near side in FIG. Is formed. The diameter of the cylindrical protrusion 82 is set to be slightly larger than the diameter of the roller 2, and a holding space for the roller 2 is secured between the intermediate sliding contact portions 70 adjacent to each other by the cylindrical protrusion 82. It has become so.

  The terminal belt 71 is not formed on the connecting belt, and a plurality of intermediate sliding portions 70 are arranged in a row by the connecting portion 72. The length of the connecting belt is sufficiently long with respect to the entire length of the infinite circulation path of the slider 3. Even when a long connecting belt is manufactured, since the intermediate sliding contact portions 70 are only regularly arranged at predetermined intervals on the connecting belt, the mold 8 corresponds to the entire length of the connecting belt. There is no need to prepare what you did. That is, after a connecting body belt including several intermediate sliding contact portions 70 is injection-molded, it is shifted with respect to the mold 8 and then injection-molded again. In addition, it is possible to easily manufacture a long connecting belt.

  Next, when the production of the connecting belt is completed, the connecting belt is cut at an arbitrary position. As shown in FIG. 5, the cutting position of the connecting body belt 75 is between the intermediate sliding contact portions 70 adjacent to each other, and the connecting portion 72 is cut by the blade 85 at this position. When cutting, the length of the connected belt 75 after cutting is made slightly shorter than the total length of the infinite circulation path of the slider 3 to which this is applied. Further, when cutting, the cutting position is selected so that the protruding amount of the cut surface of the connecting portion 72 with respect to the seat surface 73 of the intermediate sliding contact portion 70 becomes as small as possible.

  After the connecting body belt 75 is cut so as to correspond to the entire length of the endless circulation path, the intermediate sliding contact portions 70 positioned at both ends of the cut connecting body belt 75 are recreated in the terminal sliding contact portion 71. In this step, as shown in FIG. 6, the connecting body belt 75 cut to a predetermined length is inserted into the die 9, and the seat surface 73 of the intermediate sliding contact portion 70 facing the cut portion and the die 9 are inserted. A cavity 90 is formed therebetween. The mold 9 includes the cavity 90 between the first mold 91 and the second mold 92 that sandwich and hold the connecting body belt 75 and the intermediate sliding contact portion 70 located at the end of the connecting body belt 75. The third die 93 is formed with a gate 94 for injecting molten synthetic resin into the cavity 90.

  The cavity 90 corresponds to the shape of the leading portion 74 of the terminal sliding contact portion 71, and the seat surface 73 of the intermediate sliding contact portion 70 facing the cavity 90, that is, the seat positioned at the forefront of the connecting body belt 75. When the synthetic resin is injected onto the surface 73, the leading portion 74 is formed so as to fill the seat surface 73. The newly formed head portion 74 is welded to and integrated with the intermediate sliding contact portion 70, and the intermediate sliding contact portion 70 is re-formed into a terminal sliding contact portion 71 having the leading portion 74.

  By applying the molding operation of the terminal sliding contact portion 71 to both ends of the connecting body belt 75 cut to a predetermined length, the rolling element connecting body 7 shown in FIG. 3 is completed. Thereafter, the roller 2 is accommodated in a predetermined position of the rolling element coupling body 7, and a plurality of rollers 2 are arranged in the rolling element coupling body 7.

  According to such a manufacturing method of the rolling element coupling body 7, the terminal sliding contact portions 71 located at both ends of the rolling element coupling body 7 are formed by retrofitting the leading portion 74 to the intermediate sliding contact portion 70. If a connecting body belt 75 in which a plurality of intermediate sliding contact portions 70 are arranged in a line at a predetermined interval is manufactured, the connecting body belt 75 is cut out to a length corresponding to the entire length of the infinite circulation path of the slider 3. Thus, it is possible to easily manufacture the rolling element linked body 7 having the terminal sliding contact portions 71 at both ends.

  That is, it is not necessary to prepare a mold for each of the rolling element coupling bodies 7 having different lengths, and the rolling element coupling bodies 7 having various lengths can be flexibly produced. Further, in manufacturing the connecting body belt 75 in which the intermediate sliding contact portions 70 are repeatedly arranged, as long as a mold corresponding to several intermediate sliding contact portions 70 is prepared, the rear end of the formed connecting body belt 75 is obtained. By forming the next connecting body belt 75 and repeating this, it is theoretically possible to manufacture the connecting body belt 75 without any limitation on the length, and the required length of the rolling element connecting body 7 can be obtained. It is possible to produce the rolling element assembly 7 using a small mold.

  Therefore, according to the method of the present invention, it is possible to quickly and inexpensively produce rolling element assemblies 7 having various lengths.

  Further, according to the method of the present invention, when the long connecting belt 75 corresponding to the entire length of the infinite circuit is cut by the connecting portion 72, as shown in FIG. 5, the edge of the cut connecting portion 72 is cut. In some cases, 76 may slightly protrude from the seating surface 73 of the intermediate sliding contact portion 70. However, since the leading portion 74 is formed on the seat surface 73, if the end edge 76 of the connecting portion 72 is buried in the formed leading portion 74, the end edge 76 of the connecting portion 72 is rolled. It does not become an obstacle to circulation in the infinite circulation path of the moving body connection body 7.

  In the embodiment described with reference to the drawings, a roller is used as the rolling element. However, even when a ball is used as the rolling element, the method of the present invention is applied in the same manner to connect the rolling element. It is possible to produce.

  In the above embodiment, the linear guide device is exemplified as an application target of the rolling element coupling body produced by the method of the present invention. The rolling element assembly produced by the method of the present invention can also be applied to various devices such as a ball spline and a ball bush.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Track rail, 2 ... Roller, 3 ... Slider, 4 ... Slider main body, 5 ... Cover body, 7 ... Rolling body coupling body, 70 ... Intermediate sliding contact part, 71 ... Terminal sliding contact part, 72 ... Connection part, 73 ... seat surface, 74 ... head, 75 ... connector belt

Claims (2)

A method of manufacturing a rolling element assembly used by aligning a large number of rolling elements in a row so as to be able to roll and being incorporated in an infinite circulation path of the rolling element comprising a load passage and a no-load passage of a rolling guide device,
Such a rolling element coupling body is located between both ends in the longitudinal direction of the rolling element coupling body and a plurality of intermediate sliding contact portions that are interposed between the rolling elements adjacent to each other and separate the rolling elements. The rolling element is sandwiched between the intermediate sliding contact parts, and a pair of terminal sliding contact parts having a leading end serving as a terminal of the rolling element coupling body, and the intermediate sliding contact part and the terminal sliding contact part are connected in a row. A flexible connecting part,
A first step in which a plurality of the intermediate sliding contact portions are connected by the connecting portion and a connecting belt that is longer than the entire length of the infinite circulation path is molded;
Cutting the molded connector belt and cutting it into a length suitable for the infinite circulation path; and
A third step in which the leading portion is injection-molded with respect to the outwardly open surfaces of the intermediate sliding contact portions located at both ends of the connected belt after cutting, and the intermediate sliding contact portion is reshaped into the terminal sliding contact portion. And a method for producing a rolling element assembly. In the second step, the connecting portion is cut between adjacent sliding contact portions, and in the third step, the edge of the cut connecting portion is buried in the injection-molded leading portion. The manufacturing method of the rolling element coupling body of Claim 1.

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