JP5964282B2 - Ball screw - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a ball screw provided with a resin end deflector at an end portion of a nut, and more particularly to a technique for realizing a reduction in the number of components and an improvement in assembly workability.

  The ball screw has a rolling path defined by a screw shaft having a screw shaft side screw groove on the outer peripheral surface, a nut having a nut side screw groove on the inner peripheral surface, and the screw shaft side screw groove and the nut side screw groove. It is a mechanical element that includes a large number of balls (usually steel balls) accommodated therein and converts rotational motion into linear motion with high transmission efficiency and accuracy. In the ball screw, a circulation path for circulating the ball is provided on the nut side, but there is an end deflector type ball screw in which a part of the circulation path is configured by an end deflector (end circulation top) (see Patent Document 1). . The end deflector type ball screw has a through hole in the axial direction in the nut and end deflectors attached to both end faces of the nut, and the nut of the nut is formed by a return groove formed in one end deflector. The ball is scooped up from one end side and returned to the other end side of the nut through the through hole and the other end deflector.

  Some ball screw end deflectors are made of metal (bearing steel, etc.) (lost wax molded products or powder metallurgy molded products), but those made of resin (usually injection molded products). Widely adopted (Patent Documents 2 to 4). A ball screw incorporating a plastic end deflector reduces manufacturing costs and weight compared to a metal end deflector, and also produces collision noise between the end deflector and the ball (ie, operating noise). It can be kept low.

JP 2007-24305 A JP 2011-241852 A JP 2007-40469 A Japanese Patent No. 4335222

  As a method of fixing the end deflector to the end portion of the nut, fastening with a screw (bolt) described in Patent Document 1, adhesion using an adhesive described in Patent Document 2, protrusion and slit described in Patent Document 3 There is an engagement with a retainer ring described in Patent Document 4 and the like. However, the fixing method using a bolt is not suitable for fixing a resin end deflector having a relatively low mechanical strength, in addition to an increase in product cost due to screw hole processing on the nut and an increase in the number of components. In addition, the fixing method using an adhesive not only requires strictly controlling the amount of adhesive applied, but also makes it difficult to ensure durability and reliability over a long period of time. Further, in the fixing method by engaging the protrusion and the slit, it is necessary to provide a slit or protrusion on the nut side, and it is difficult to lock the screw shaft side portion of the end deflector. The fixing method using the retainer ring has a problem that the product cost increases due to the processing of the retainer ring holding groove with respect to the nut and the increase in the number of components, and the entire length of the nut becomes long due to the retainer ring holding groove.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a background, and an object of the present invention is to provide an end deflector type ball screw that realizes reduction in the number of components and improvement in assembling workability.

  In the first aspect of the present invention, the screw shaft side screw groove (2) has a cylindrical shape with the screw shaft (3) formed on the outer peripheral surface, and faces the screw shaft side screw groove on the inner peripheral surface. A nut-side thread groove (4) that is formed in the thread shaft-side thread groove and defines a rolling path (8), and a ball return that is drilled between the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface substantially parallel to the shaft center A hole (15), and a nut (7) having an end deflector holding recess (6) which is continuous with the nut-side thread groove and is recessed in both end faces so that the axial end of the ball return hole is open. A resin-made end deflector (21) having a guide portion (23) that is fitted into the end deflector holding recess from the end face side of the nut and transfers the ball between the rolling path and the ball return hole. The rolling path, the ball return hole and the gas A ball screw including a plurality of balls (9) accommodated in a slot portion, wherein the end deflector engages with the nut-side screw groove, and the axial relative movement between the end deflector and the nut is achieved. Locking claws (31, 32) for regulating

  Moreover, in the 2nd side surface of this invention, the said latching claw elastically engages with the said nut side thread groove.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, a locking recess (25) that elastically engages with a locking projection (17) provided in the end deflector holding recess of the nut is provided on the outer peripheral side of the end deflector. ) Was formed.

  In the fourth aspect of the present invention, the end deflector has a slit (27, 33, 34) for facilitating elastic deformation inside at least one of the locking claw and the locking recess. Been formed.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the locking claw engages with the nut-side thread groove, the end deflector is effectively dropped without providing a locking portion that engages with the locking claw on the nut side. To be suppressed. Further, according to the second aspect, the engagement between the locking claw and the nut-side thread groove is realized only by inserting the end deflector into the end deflector holding recess. Moreover, according to the 3rd side surface, an end deflector and an end deflector holding | maintenance recessed part engage reliably, and omission of an end deflector is suppressed more effectively. Further, according to the fourth aspect, the end deflector can be easily fitted into the end deflector holding recess, and the productivity of the ball screw is improved.

It is a perspective view of a ball screw concerning an embodiment. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the ball screw which concerns on embodiment. It is a disassembled perspective view of the ball screw which concerns on embodiment. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows an end deflector and an end deflector holding | maintenance recessed part. It is a perspective view of the assembly state which shows an end deflector and an end deflector holding | maintenance recessed part. It is the perspective view seen from the slanting lower part of the end deflector. It is the perspective view seen from the slanting back of an end deflector. It is a principal part longitudinal cross-sectional view of an end deflector. It is a figure which shows the assembly | attachment process of the end deflector which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows the assembly | attachment process of the end deflector which concerns on embodiment.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a ball screw to which the present invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In describing the end deflector and the end deflector housing recess, the vertical and horizontal directions are indicated by arrows in FIG. 4, and the position and direction are indicated along these.

[Embodiment]
<< Configuration of Embodiment >>
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the ball screw 1 of the present embodiment includes a screw shaft 3 in which a screw shaft side thread groove 2 having a predetermined lead is formed on the outer periphery, and a nut corresponding to the screw shaft side thread groove 2. The side thread groove 4 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) is formed on the inner periphery, and the end deflector holding recess 6 is opened at both end faces, respectively, a cylindrical nut 7, the screw shaft side thread groove 2, and the nut side thread groove 4 A plurality of balls 9 (steel balls: see FIGS. 2 and 3) and both end deflectors accommodated in a rolling path 8 (see FIG. 2) defined by the above, a ball return hole 15 of a nut 7 which will be described later, and the like. The end deflector 21 is inserted into the holding recess 6. In the case of this embodiment, the screw shaft 3 is a rolling molded product made of stainless steel, and the nut 7 and the end deflector 21 are injection molded products made of resin. Other than the above (resin, bearing steel, etc.) may be used, or may be produced by a processing method (injection molding, cutting, etc.) other than rolling molding. A rectangular flange 10 is provided on the outer periphery of the nut 7, and a driven member (not shown) is attached to the flange 10.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the nut 7 is formed with a ball return hole 15 that opens in the bottom surface 6 a of the end deflector holding recess 6 and a positioning recess 16 that is concentric with the ball return hole 15 and has a semicircular arc cross section. . As shown in FIG. 4, the end deflector holding recess 6 has a substantially arc shape with positioning step portions 6 b and 6 d on the right side, and the inner peripheral side is opened so as to be continuous with the nut-side screw groove 4. . A locking projection 17 projects from the outer inner wall 6 c of the end deflector holding recess 6, and the locking projection 17 engages with a locking recess 25 (described later) on the end deflector 21 side. The locking projection 17 has a relatively gentle inclined surface 17a at the top thereof so that the end deflector 21 can be easily inserted.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the end deflector 21 has a substantially arc shape with positioning step portions 21 e and 21 f on the right side so that the end deflector 21 is tightly fitted to the end deflector holding recess 6 of the nut 7. . In the lower part of the end deflector 21, the ball 9 is scooped up from the rolling path 8 (or the ball 9 is returned to the rolling path 8), and the ball 9 is transferred between the rolling path 8 and the ball return hole 15. A guide groove 23 (guide portion) and a positioning convex portion 24 having a semicircular arc section that fits into the positioning concave portion 16 of the nut 7 are formed. Note that a flat surface 23a for die cutting is formed at the lower portion of the guide groove 23. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a locking recess 25 into which the locking projection 17 of the end deflector holding recess 6 is fitted is formed on the outer peripheral surface 21 b of the end deflector 21. The upper part is an inclined surface 25 a corresponding to the inclined surface 17 a of the locking projection 17. Further, the end deflector 21 is formed with a slit 27 on the inner peripheral side of the locking recess 25 and the arc-shaped portion 26 so that the arc-shaped portion 26 forming the lower edge of the locking recess 25 can be bent relatively easily. Yes.

  Locking claws 31 and 32 project from the inner peripheral side left and right end faces 21c and 21d of the end deflector 21 at positions corresponding to the nut-side thread grooves 4, respectively. The locking claws 31, 32 have an arc shape in which the upper part closely engages with the nut-side thread groove 4, and the lower part has a relatively gentle inclined surface 31 a, so as to facilitate insertion into the end deflector holding recess 6. 32a. The end deflector 21 is formed with slits 33 and 34 on the inner side of the locking claws 31 and 32 so that the locking claws 31 and 32 can be bent relatively easily.

<< Operation of Embodiment >>
The ball screw 1 is incorporated in a machine tool, a three-dimensional measuring machine, or the like as an element of a linear drive mechanism, a flange 10 of a nut 7 is fastened to an end surface of a driven member, and a screw shaft 3 includes a motor, a speed reducer, and the like. Not connected to a rotary drive. When the screw shaft 3 is rotationally driven by the rotation driving device, the screw shaft side screw groove 2 and the nut side screw groove 4 are screwed together via the ball 9, and accordingly, the nut 7 is screwed. Thus, the driven member is driven straight. The ball 9 is scooped up from one end of the rolling path 8 defined by the screw shaft side thread groove 2 and the nut side thread groove 4 by one end deflector 21, and then the other through the ball return hole 15. It is returned from the end deflector 21 to the other end of the rolling path 8. In the case of this embodiment, since the end deflector 21 and the nut 7 are made of resin, the ball screw 1 is light and low in cost, and the ball 9 is connected to the end deflector 21 (guide groove 23) and the nut 7 (ball return hole 15). The driving noise due to the collision is also suppressed.

<Assembly of end deflector>
Next, an assembly process of the end deflector 21 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4, 9, and 10.

  In this embodiment, when assembling the end deflector 21 to the nut 7, the assembling worker inserts the end deflector 21 into the end deflector holding recess 6 from above as shown by an arrow in FIG. 4. At this time, since the outer shape of the end deflector 21 and the outer shape of the end deflector holding recess 6 are substantially the same (both arc-shaped) in plan view, the end deflector 21 enters the end deflector holding recess 6 without deviation. As shown in FIG. 9A, first, the inclined surface 17a of the locking projection 17 is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the end deflector 21, and the arc-shaped portion 26 is elastically deformed to the inner peripheral side. At this time, since the slit 27 exists on the inner peripheral side, the arc-shaped portion 26 is elastically deformed relatively easily, and the force required to insert the end deflector 21 into the end deflector holding recess 6 is reduced.

  When the end deflector 21 is further fitted into the end deflector holding recess 6, the left and right ends of the end deflector holding recess 6 are pressed against the inclined surfaces 31 a and 32 a as shown in FIG. Elastically deform inward. Also in this case, since the slits 33 and 34 are present, the locking claws 31 and 32 are elastically deformed relatively easily, and the force required to insert the end deflector 21 into the end deflector holding recess 6 is reduced.

  When the end deflector 21 is fitted until it contacts the bottom surface of the end deflector holding recess 6, the locking projection 17 of the end deflector holding recess 6 is brought into the locking recess 25 of the end deflector 21 as shown in FIG. 9B. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10B, the locking claws 31 and 32 of the end deflector 21 are fitted into the nut-side thread groove 4. Thereby, the end deflector 21 is firmly fixed to the end deflector holding recess 6 (that is, the nut 7) in the axial direction. When the end deflector 21 is completely inserted into the end deflector holding recess 6, the positioning convex portion 24 of the end deflector 21 is inserted into the positioning recess 16 of the nut 7, and the positioning step portions 21 e and 21 f of the end deflector 21 are inserted. Is inserted into the positioning steps 6b and 6d of the end deflector holding recess 6 so that the nut 7 and the end deflector 21 are accurately positioned. At this time, the positioning step portion 21e of the end deflector 21 and the positioning step portion 6d of the end deflector holding recess 6 come into close contact with each other, so that the step difference between the nut-side screw groove 4 and the flat surface 23a of the guide groove 23 becomes an appropriate value. The ball screw 1 can be operated satisfactorily without adjustment by a hand grinder or the like.

  When the assembly operator completes the assembly of the end deflector 21 to both ends of the nut 7, a sleeve (usually a steel round bar) (not shown) whose outer diameter is slightly smaller than the valley diameter of the screw shaft side thread groove 2 is attached to the nut 7. While being inserted, the ball 9 is filled (poured) between the nut-side thread groove 4 and the sleeve or into the ball return hole 15. Next, the assembly operator completes the ball screw 1 by rotating the nut 7 with the end surface of the screw shaft 3 abutting against the end surface of the sleeve and moving the ball 9 from the sleeve to the rolling path 8. The assembly operator attaches one end deflector 21 to the nut 7, screwes the nut 7 into the screw shaft 3 and fills the ball 9, and then places the nut 7 on the shaft end of the screw shaft 3. The ball screw 1 may be manufactured by the procedure of assembling the end deflector 21 to the nut 7.

  Although the description of the specific embodiment is finished as described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and can be widely modified. For example, in the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to a ball screw having a resin nut, but the present invention is naturally applicable to a ball screw having a metal nut. In the above embodiment, the engaging claw of the end deflector is engaged with the nut-side thread groove, and at the same time, the engaging convex portion of the end deflector holding concave portion is engaged with the engaging concave portion of the end deflector. The axial relative movement between the end deflector and the nut may be restricted only by the engagement between the nut-side thread groove and the locking claw. In addition, the specific shapes and the like of the end deflector and the end deflector holding recess can be changed as appropriate without departing from the gist of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ball screw 2 Screw shaft side thread groove 3 Screw shaft 4 Nut side thread groove 6 End deflector holding recessed part 7 Nut 8 Rolling path 9 Ball 15 Ball return hole 17 Locking convex part 21 End deflector 23 Guide groove (guide part)
25 Locking recess 27 Slit 31 Locking claw 33 Slit

Claims (3)

A screw shaft in which a screw shaft side thread groove is formed on the outer peripheral surface;
Nut-side thread groove that has a cylindrical shape and is formed on the inner peripheral surface so as to face the screw shaft-side thread groove and defines a rolling path together with the screw shaft-side thread groove, between the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface And a ball return hole drilled substantially parallel to the shaft center, and an end deflector holding recess that is continuous with the nut-side thread groove and is recessed at both end surfaces so that the axial end of the ball return hole is open. A nut having
A resin-made end deflector having a guide portion that is fitted into the end deflector holding recess from the end face side of the nut and that transfers the ball between the rolling path and the ball return hole;
A ball screw including the rolling path, the ball return hole, and a plurality of balls accommodated in the guide portion,
Wherein the end deflector is characterized in that the nut-side screw groove is resiliently engage and resin molded article having a locking claw together to regulate the relative axial movement between the end deflector to the nut Ball screw.   The locking recess that elastically engages with the locking projection provided in the end deflector holding recess of the nut is formed on the outer peripheral side of the end deflector. Ball screw.   The ball screw according to claim 2, wherein the end deflector is formed with a slit for facilitating elastic deformation inside at least one of the locking claw and the locking recess. .

Images