JP6295043B2 - Rolling guide device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a rolling guide device used in various industrial machines.

  As an example of a conventional rolling guide device, a return tube type ball screw device and an end reflector type ball screw device are known.

  In the return tube type ball screw device, a ball rolling in a thread groove between a screw shaft and a nut is guided to a metal return tube. The return tube has a ball return path for returning the ball to the original thread groove, and a ball guide path for guiding the ball rolling in the thread groove to the ball return path. Then, the ball guided to the ball return path via the ball guide path passes through the ball return path and returns to the original thread groove again.

  In such a return tube type ball screw device, stress tends to concentrate on the ball guide path of the return tube due to contact with the ball, and there is a concern that the return tube may be damaged due to metal fatigue.

  In view of this, a ball screw device is disclosed in which the shape of the ball guide path of the return tube is formed in a shape in which stress concentration is difficult to concentrate, and durability of the return tube is improved (see Patent Document 1).

  On the other hand, in an end reflector type ball screw device, the end reflector is provided inside or outside the nut, and the ball rolling in the thread groove between the screw shaft and the nut is the ball guide path of the end reflector. Is guided to a ball return passage formed inside the nut. Then, the guided ball passes through the ball return passage and returns to the original thread groove again.

  In such an end reflector type ball screw device, if there is a step where the ball collides between the ball guide path of the end reflector and the ball return passage of the nut, this step generates a loud collision sound. Or cause damage to the ball, such as cracking.

  Therefore, a ball screw device is disclosed in which the ball guide path of the end reflector and the ball return path of the nut are smoothly connected so that there is no step (see Patent Document 2).

JP 2007-285379 A JP 2007-218278 A

  However, in the return tube type ball screw device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the durability of the return tube can be improved by forming the shape of the ball guide path of the return tube into a shape in which stress concentration is difficult. However, there is a problem that it is not possible to suppress the collision sound (striking sound) between the metals that is generated when the metal return tube and the metal ball collide.

  Further, in the end reflector type ball screw device disclosed in Patent Document 2, when the ball screw device is actually manufactured, the end reflector is assembled so as not to cause a step with respect to the female member. Extremely high precision technology is required. For example, when such a step occurs at the joint between the end reflector and the nut, the ball collides with the step when the ball enters the ball return path of the nut from the ball guide path of the end reflector. There was a problem that the generated collision sound (sounding sound) could not be suppressed. Therefore, in the actual production of the ball screw device, even if a step is generated at the joint portion between the end reflector and the nut, the collision between the ball and the step can be prevented at a lower cost and with higher accuracy. Technology is required.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a rolling guide device capable of preventing damage such as cracking in a ball or a guide path while suppressing a hitting sound generated by a collision between a metal ball and the guide path as compared with the conventional art. It is to be.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a rolling guide device that can prevent a collision between a ball and a step at a low cost and with high accuracy even if a step occurs in the actual manufacture of the device. is there.

(1) The rolling guide device of the present invention includes a first member in which a first groove capable of rolling a ball is formed, and a second member in which a second groove capable of rolling the ball is formed. When the said ball rolling between the first groove and the second groove and a cyclable circulation path, the circulation path, the circulation path is disengaged the ball to the rolling It includes a guide passage which can guide into the interior of, the road surface of at least the guide path of the circulation path, so enter the rubber between the fibers put together by bonding the fibers to each other, and constituted by a stretchy fabric wherein the fiber member has been found provided. Here, the “road surface of the guideway” includes at least the road surface on the entrance side of the guideway and includes the entire surface of the guideway.

According to the configuration of (1) above, at least on the road surface of the guide path of the circulation path, there is a fiber member made of a stretchable cloth that is made by putting rubber between the fibers and bonding the fibers together. Therefore, when guiding the ball that has left the ball rolling path from the guide path to the inside of the circulation path, the hitting sound generated by the collision between the ball and the guide path is suppressed more than before, and the guide path is It is possible to prevent damage such as cracking. In addition, wear due to friction between fibers is reduced.

(2) In the rolling guide device of (1), the first member is a male member in which a plurality of the first grooves are formed on an outer peripheral surface, and the plurality of the second members are a plurality. The second groove is a female member having an inner peripheral surface formed to face the first groove, and is formed between the first groove and the second groove, A ball rolling path capable of rolling the ball, wherein the circulation path has a ball return path for returning the ball rolled on the ball rolling path back to the ball rolling path, and the guide path is it is preferred from the ball rolling passage by releasing the ball can be guided into the ball return path.

According to the configuration of (2) above, at least on the road surface of the guide path, a fiber composed of a stretchable cloth in which rubber is inserted between the fibers and the fibers are bonded together. Since the member is formed, when guiding the ball that has separated from the ball rolling path to the ball return path, the hitting sound generated by the collision between the ball and the guide path is suppressed more than before, and the guide path is cracked. Can be prevented from being damaged.

(3) In the rolling guide device of (2), it is preferable that the rolling guide device includes a tubular member made of metal, resin, or elastomer that can be attached to the female member and can form the circulation path.

According to the configuration of (3) above, at least on the road surface of the guide path, a fiber composed of a stretchable cloth in which rubber is inserted between the fibers and the fibers are bonded together. Since the member is formed, when using a tubular member made of metal, resin or elastomer to guide the ball to the ball return passage, the hitting sound generated by the collision between the ball and the guide passage is suppressed compared to the conventional case. However, it is possible to prevent damage such as cracking due to metal fatigue not only on the guide path but also on the circulating balls.

(4) In the rolling guide device according to (2), the ball return path includes a metal, resin, or elastomeric guide member that can be mounted on the female member and can form the guide path. However, it is preferably formed inside the female mold member.

According to the configuration of the above (4) , a stretchable cloth in which rubber is inserted between fibers and the fibers are bonded together on at least the surface of the ball guide path among the circulation paths. Since the structured fiber member is formed, when a ball is guided to the ball return path using a metal, resin or elastomer guide member, hitting sound generated by the collision between the ball and the guide path is conventionally generated. It is possible to prevent damage such as cracking due to metal fatigue not only on the guide path but also on the circulating ball.

  Further, according to the configuration of (4) above, when the ball is guided to the ball return path using the guide member, the load applied to the guide path from the ball can be absorbed by the fiber member. Damage to the guide path due to the collision between the ball and the guide path can be prevented.

(5) In the rolling guide device of (4), it is preferable that the guide path has a connection portion connected to the ball return passage, and the periphery of the connection portion is covered with the fiber member. . The term “connecting portion” as used herein refers to a step in the periphery of the joint portion when the ball screw device is manufactured by assembling the guide member to the female mold member in addition to the joint portion with the ball return passage. Including the entire portion that can cause

  According to the configuration of (5) above, since the periphery of the connecting portion connected to the ball return passage is covered with the fiber member, the connection is made when the guide member is assembled to the female member and the ball screw device is manufactured. Regardless of whether or not a step is generated around the part (regardless of whether or not there is a step), a ball that enters the ball return path from the guide path can always be made to collide with the fiber member. Therefore, even if a step occurs around the connection part when the ball screw device is manufactured, the impact from the ball can be absorbed by the fiber member covering the connection part periphery. As a result, the durability of the ball return passage can be improved, so that the female member can be used for a long time.

It is a figure showing a schematic structure of a ball screw device concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is arrow sectional drawing of the AA line of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows an example of the structure of the tube piece in the return tube which concerns on this invention. It is an example of sectional drawing which cut | disconnected the ball screw apparatus which concerns on this invention along the ball rolling path. It is another example of sectional drawing which cut | disconnected the ball screw apparatus which concerns on this invention along the ball rolling path. It is sectional drawing which shows schematic structure of the ball screw apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the principal part of the ball screw apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view of the end reflector shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the connection part of a ball | bowl return channel | path. It is the result of the compression test using a servo tester, and shows the rigidity characteristics of each test piece. (A) is a top view of a return tube of a type which is not symmetrical. (B) is a perspective view which shows the outer side shape of the tube piece which divided | segmented the return tube into right and left. (C) is a perspective view which shows the inner side shape of the tube piece which divided | segmented the return tube into right and left.

<First Embodiment>
Hereinafter, the rolling guide apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, a case where the present invention is applied to a ball screw device will be described as an example of a rolling guide device.

<Overall configuration of ball screw device>
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ball screw device (rolling guide device) 100 includes a male member (first member) 1, a female member (second member) 2, and a female member 2. A return tube (tubular member) 3 that can be mounted, a fixing member 4 that can fix the return tube 3 to the female member 2, and a fiber member 5, and a male member 1 and a female member 2. It is configured to be screwable.

<Configuration of male member>
The male member 1 is made of metal and has a plurality of spiral male grooves (first grooves) 11 formed on the outer peripheral surface 10 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

<Configuration of female member>
The female member 2 has a plurality of female grooves (second grooves) 21 formed on the inner peripheral surface 20 as shown in FIG. Each female groove 21 is formed in a spiral shape like the male groove 11, and is formed at a position facing the male groove 11 of the male mold member 1 as shown in FIG. 2. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a ball rolling path P <b> 1 capable of rolling the metal ball B <b> 1 is formed between the male groove 11 and the female groove 21. A plurality of balls B1 are filled in the ball rolling path P1. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a cutout portion 23 is provided on the outer peripheral surface 22 of the female mold member 2. A return tube 3 that can communicate with the ball rolling path P <b> 1 is fixed to the notch 23 using a fixing member 4.

<Return tube configuration>
The return tube 3 is made of metal and is a member capable of transporting the ball B1 from one end to the other end as shown in FIG. A circulation path 31 communicating with the ball rolling path P1 is formed on the inner peripheral surface 30 of the return tube 3. The circulation path 31 is configured to be able to circulate the ball B1 by returning the ball B1 in the ball rolling path P1 to the ball rolling path P1 again. The circulation path 31 includes a ball guide path (guide path) 33 and a ball return path 32 extending substantially linearly. The ball B1 in the ball rolling path P1 is connected to the ball guide path 33 and the ball return path. The passage 32 is sequentially passed and returned to the ball rolling path P1 again.

  The metal material of the return tube can be iron, aluminum, brass or the like. As the resin material, polyacetal, polycarbonate, nylon, polyphenyl sulfide, polybutylene terephthalate, polyester and the like can be used. Also, as elastomer materials, styrene elastomer, olefin elastomer, vinyl chloride elastomer, polyester elastomer, polyurethane elastomer, polyamide elastomer, urethane rubber, nitrile rubber, silicon rubber, fluorine rubber, acrylic rubber, ethylene-propylene rubber, Use butyl rubber, isoprene rubber, chlorinated polyethylene rubber, epichlorohydrin rubber, hydrogenated nitrile rubber, chloroprene rubber, polybutadiene rubber, styrene butadiene rubber, natural rubber, etc., alone or with various modifications of these elastomers be able to. These elastomers can be used alone or in a blend of a plurality of types of elastomers.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the ball guide path 33 is bent downwardly from the end of the ball return path 32 and extends downward, and extends from the ball rolling path P1 to the ball. B1 can be detached and guided to the ball return passage 32. As shown in FIG. 4, the tip end portion T on the entrance side of the ball guide path 33 is disposed inside the ball rolling path P1. As a result, the ball B1 in the ball rolling path P1 collides with the tip end portion T and is scooped up and travels in the ball guide path 33 in the direction indicated by the white line in FIG. Guided in.

  The return tube 3 of the present embodiment is composed of a pair of tube pieces 6 that are divided into two along the track direction of the ball B1 that circulates on the inner peripheral surface 30 (see FIG. 3). The pair of tube pieces 6 have a symmetrical shape on the mating surface where the return tube 3 can be divided. Therefore, each tube piece 6 does not need to be specifically distinguished and described, and therefore, in FIG. 3, only one of the pair of tube pieces 6 is illustrated.

  As an example of the manufacturing process of the return tube 3, (1) a step of producing a pair of tube pieces 6 by pressing a precursor of a tube piece 6 made of metal, (2) of each tube piece 6, A step of forming the fiber member 5 in a portion corresponding to the road surface 33a (see FIG. 4) of the distal end portion T; (3) after the tube pieces 6 are aligned with each other, the tube pieces 6 are pasted with an adhesive; The manufacturing method by performing the process to match | combine or fix with the fixing member 4 sequentially can be mentioned.

<Configuration of fiber member>
In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4, in order to suppress a collision sound (striking sound) between metals caused by a collision between the tip portion T on the entrance side of the ball guide path 33 and the ball B1, The fiber member 5 is formed on the road surface 33a of the distal end portion T.

The fiber member 5 can be formed of aramid fiber, nylon, urethane, cotton, silk, hemp, acetate, rayon, fiber containing fluorine, polyester, and the like, and is impregnated with rubber . The shape of the fiber may be, for example, a short fiber shape or a long fiber shape, or may be a sheet-like cloth.

By impregnating the more fibers to rubber, rubber enters between the fibers, put together by bonding the fibers, it is possible to function as a member (sheet member) as a fiber member 5. Further, when the fibers are impregnated with rubber , wear due to rubbing between the fibers is reduced and adhesion between the fiber member 5 and the ball guide path 33 is further improved.

In addition, the rubber | gum should just be what can impregnate a fiber. As the rubber, for example, c Retangomu, nitrile rubber, silicone rubber, fluorine rubber, acrylic rubber, ethylene - propylene rubber, butyl rubber, isoprene rubber, chlorinated polyethylene rubber, epichlorohydrin rubber, hydrogenated nitrile rubber, chloroprene rubber, Polybutadiene rubber, styrene butadiene rubber, natural rubber, or the like can be used alone, or those obtained by variously modifying these rubbers . These rubbers can be used alone or in a blend of a plurality of types of rubbers . Further, the rubber, in addition to vulcanizing agents, vulcanization accelerator, antioxidant, softener, plasticizer, filler, and a suitable amount of which had been used as a compounding agent for rubber from the conventional such as colorants Can be blended. In addition to these, in order to improve the lubricity of the fiber member 5, a solid lubricant such as graphite, silicon oil, fluorine powder, or molybdenum disulfide may be included in the rubber .

Impregnation of the fibers according to the aforementioned rubber, after the dissolved rubber in a solvent such as a liquid, a predetermined fiber method of dipping treatment (short fiber, long fiber or fabric) is preferably used. In actual use, a cloth in which fibers are formed in a sheet shape can be used. The method of impregnating the fabric with rubber is also performed in the same manner as described above.

Examples of the fabric include a nonwoven fabric in which fibers are entangled irregularly, a woven fabric formed regularly, and a knitted fabric (knit). Since these cloths are in the form of a sheet compared to those composed only of fibers (short fibers or long fibers), it is easy to perform impregnation with rubber (easy to handle), and the road surface 33a of the ball guide path 33. Further, it has a feature that it is easy to adhere. For the weaving method, plain weave, satin weave, twill weave, or the like is used.

  In addition, the cloth preferably has a certain degree of elasticity. Since the shape of the return tube 303 in FIG. 5 is complicated, the occurrence of wrinkles and the like on the cloth can be further suppressed when the cloth can be expanded and contracted in at least one direction. The thickness range of the fiber is 0.1 [mm] to 2.0 [mm], preferably 0.2 [mm] to 1.5 [mm]. This is because if the fiber thickness is too thin, the impact absorption amount of the ball decreases and the durability of the fiber itself also decreases. Further, if the fiber thickness is too thick, the amount of deformation of the fiber increases, and the problem that the ball meanders occurs.

  Adhesives used when bonding the fiber member 5 to the ball guide path 33 are acrylic resin adhesive, olefin adhesive, urethane resin adhesive, ethylene-vinyl acetate resin adhesive, epoxy resin adhesive Adhesive, vinyl chloride resin adhesive, chloroprene rubber adhesive, cyanoacrylate adhesive, silicon adhesive, styrene-butadiene rubber adhesive, nitrile rubber adhesive, hot melt adhesive, phenol resin adhesive , A melamine resin adhesive, a urea resin adhesive, a resorcinol adhesive, etc., a method of curing and adhering by applying and cooling the adhesive after heating and melting it, In addition, there is a method of curing and adhering by heating the adhesive.

<Operation of ball screw device>
In the ball screw device 100 of the present embodiment, when the male member 1 and the female member 2 rotate relative to each other, the ball B1 advances while rolling in the ball rolling path P1, and passes through the circulation path 31 to return to the original position. An infinite circulation path is formed in which the ball B1 is returned to the position again, and the circulation of the ball B1 is repeated. Then, the male member 1 and the female member 2 relatively move in the axial direction by such circulation of the ball B1.

<Features of Ball Screw Device (Rolling Guide Device) According to this Embodiment>
According to the above configuration, since the fiber member 5 made of fiber impregnated with rubber is formed on the road surface 33a of the tip portion T on the inlet side of the ball guide path 33 in the circulation path 31, the ball rolling When the ball B1 that has left the path P1 is guided to the ball return path 32, the hitting sound between metals generated by the collision between the ball B1 and the ball guide path 33 is suppressed as compared with the conventional case, and only the ball guide path 33 is used. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the circulating ball B1 from being damaged due to metal fatigue.

Moreover, according to the said structure, since the fiber member 5 which consists of the fiber which impregnated rubber has low sliding resistance and high durability, the return tube 3 in which the fiber member 5 was formed can be used for a long period of time. As a result, the durability of the ball screw device 100 can be improved as compared with the conventional case.

Second Embodiment
Hereinafter, the rolling guide apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, a case where the present invention is applied to a ball screw device will be described as an example of a rolling guide device.

<Overall configuration of ball screw device>
As shown in FIG. 6, the ball screw device (rolling guide device) 200 can be attached to the male member (first member) 101, the female member (second member) 102, and the female member 102. An end reflector (guide member) 103 and the fiber member 5 are provided, and the male member 101 and the female member 102 can be screwed together.

<Configuration of male member>
The male member 101 is made of metal and has a plurality of spiral male grooves (first grooves) 111 formed on the outer peripheral surface 110 as shown in FIG.

<Configuration of female member>
As shown in FIG. 6, the female member 102 includes a plurality of female grooves 121 (second grooves) formed on the inner peripheral surface 120, and a male member between the outer wall of the female member 102 and the female groove 121. And a ball return passage 132 formed so as to extend in a direction substantially parallel to the axial direction of 101. Each female groove 121 is formed in a spiral like the male groove 111, and is formed at a position facing the male groove 111 of the male mold member 101, as shown in FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, a ball rolling path P2 is formed between the male groove 111 and the female groove 121 so that the metal ball B2 can roll and can carry the ball B2 in one way. Has been. The entrance of the ball rolling path P2 is provided on one end side of the female member 102, and the exit of the ball rolling path P2 is provided on the other end side of the female member 102. A plurality of balls B2 are filled and arranged in the rolling path P2. A pair of end reflectors 103 are incorporated at the entrance and exit of the ball rolling path P2. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the pair of end reflectors 103 is configured to change the direction of the ball B <b> 2 that rolls in the ball rolling path P <b> 2 and introduce it into the ball return path 132. ing.

<Configuration of end reflector>
The end reflector 103 is made of metal or resin, and as shown in FIG. 7, a ball scooping section that scoops up the ball B2 that rolls in the direction indicated by the white arrow in the ball rolling path P2 from the ball rolling path P2. 134 and a ball guide surface 135 for guiding the ball B2 scooped up by the ball scooping portion 134 to the ball return passage 132 of the female member 102 are formed. In the present embodiment, the ball scooping portion 134 and the ball guide surface 135 constitute a ball guide path (guide path) 133. In this embodiment, the ball return path 132 and the ball guide path 133 constitute a circulation path. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the ball guide surface 135 of the end reflector 103 has a tip portion 135a that protrudes along the axial direction of the female member 102 (see, for example, FIG. 7).

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, the ball guide surface 135 of the end reflector 103 is formed with a tip portion 135 a that contacts the contact portion 122 of the female member 102. The front end portion 135a is a joint portion between the ball return passage 132 and the ball guide passage 133. In the present invention, in addition to the joint portion, the end reflector 103 is assembled to the female member 102 to provide a ball screw. When the device 200 is manufactured, the entire portion that can cause a step around the joint portion is referred to as a connection portion. In FIG. 7 and FIG. 9, this connecting portion is indicated by a bold line. That is, the connection portion is a portion connected to the ball return passage 132 and is formed in the ball guide path 133.

  As the metal material of the end reflector 103, iron, aluminum, brass, or the like can be used. As the resin material, polyacetal, polycarbonate, nylon, polyphenyl sulfide, polybutylene terephthalate, polyester and the like can be used. Also, as elastomer materials, styrene elastomer, olefin elastomer, vinyl chloride elastomer, polyester elastomer, polyurethane elastomer, polyamide elastomer, urethane rubber, nitrile rubber, silicon rubber, fluorine rubber, acrylic rubber, ethylene-propylene rubber, Use butyl rubber, isoprene rubber, chlorinated polyethylene rubber, epichlorohydrin rubber, hydrogenated nitrile rubber, chloroprene rubber, polybutadiene rubber, styrene butadiene rubber, natural rubber, etc., alone or with various modifications of these elastomers be able to. These elastomers can be used alone or in a blend of a plurality of types of elastomers.

  When the ball guide path 133 for guiding the ball B2 to the ball return path 132 is formed in the end reflector 103, since the ball guide path 133 is a curved path, the ball guide path 133 can be formed with only one component. In many cases, two or more parts are formed together. However, since the end reflector 103 is made of a soft material such as an elastomer, and the ball guide path 133 is reinforced with rubber and canvas, it becomes possible to form an undercut shape. The assembled end reflector 103 can be manufactured with one component, and as a result, the strength, durability, weight reduction, and assembly of the component can be improved.

<Configuration of fiber member>
The fiber member 105 is attached to the metal part of the end reflector 103 made by cutting or sintering with an adhesive. In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the fiber member 105 is attached to the entire surface of the ball guide path 133 of the end reflector 103. A part where the ball B2 enters the ball guide path 133 of the end reflector 103 from the movement path P2 (ball scooping part 134) and a part where the ball B2 enters the ball return path 132 from the ball guide path 133 of the end reflector 103 (ball guide surface 135) ) At least two places. Further, the fiber member 105 may be attached to an intermediate portion between the ball scooping portion 134 and the ball guide surface 135, or the fiber member 105 may not be attached.

  The fiber member 105 can be configured using a material similar to the material of the fiber member 5 of the first embodiment. Similar to the fiber member 5, by impregnating the fiber with rubber or the like, wear due to rubbing between the fibers is reduced, and adhesion between the fiber member 105 and the ball guide path 133 is further improved.

Impregnation of the fibers according to the aforementioned rubbers, like the first embodiment, after the dissolved rubber in a solvent such as liquid, a method of dipping processes a predetermined fiber (short fiber, long fiber or fabric) Preferably used. In actual use, a cloth in which fibers are formed in a sheet shape can be used. The method for impregnating the fabric with rubber is also performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

Examples of constituents of the fabric include a nonwoven fabric in which fibers are irregularly entangled, a regularly woven fabric, and a knitted fabric (knit), as in the first embodiment. These cloths are sheet-like compared to those composed only of fibers (short fibers or long fibers), so that they can be easily impregnated with rubber (easy to handle), and further on the road surface of the ball guide path 133. Also has the feature of being easy to adhere.

  In addition, the cloth preferably has a certain degree of elasticity. Since the shape of the end reflector of FIG. 8 is complicated, the occurrence of wrinkles and the like on the cloth can be further suppressed when the cloth can be expanded and contracted in at least one direction. The thickness range of the fiber is 0.1 [mm] to 2.0 [mm], preferably 0.2 [mm] to 1.5 [mm]. This is because if the fiber thickness is too thin, the impact absorption amount of the ball decreases and the durability of the fiber itself also decreases. Further, if the fiber thickness is too thick, the amount of deformation of the fiber increases, and the problem that the ball meanders occurs.

  As the adhesive used when bonding the fiber member 105 to the ball return passage 132, the same adhesive as that used when bonding the fiber member 5 to the ball guide path 33 in the first embodiment can be used. .

<Operation of ball screw device>
In the ball screw device 200 of the present embodiment, when the male member 101 and the female member 102 rotate relative to each other, the ball B2 advances while rolling in the ball rolling path P2, and the circulation path (the ball return path 132 and the ball return path 132). An infinite circulation path is formed that returns to the original position again via the guide path 133), and the circulation of the ball B2 is repeated. Then, the male member 101 and the female member 102 move relatively in the axial direction by such circulation of the ball B2.

  Next, the present invention will be described specifically by way of examples. Here, the result of examining the usefulness of the member formed so as to cover the periphery of the connecting portion (including the periphery including the joint portion between the ball return passage 132 and the ball guide surface 135) as a cushioning material by a compression test will be described. To do. In addition, this invention is not limited to a present Example. The conditions of the compression test here are given as follows. As a testing machine, a servo testing machine manufactured by Instron was used. The test piece is a test piece 1 formed by attaching a member made of only an elastomer to a metal plate having a size of 10 [mm] × 10 [mm] and a thickness of 0.3 [mm], and the size is 10 [mm] × A member made of an elastomer and a fiber was attached to a metal plate having a thickness of 10 [mm] and a thickness of 0.3 [mm] to obtain a test piece 2. The thickness of the elastomer affixed to the test piece 1 was 0.7 [mm]. The thickness of the elastomer attached to the test piece 2 was 0.7 [mm], the thickness of the fiber was 0.3 [mm], and the total thickness of the elastomer and the fiber was 1.0 [mm]. The test speed of the testing machine was 0.504 [mm / min]. The cycle number [times] of the testing machine was set to 10. Further, hydrogenated NBR was used as the elastomer, and nylon fiber was used as the fiber.

  FIG. 10 shows the results of the compression test and shows the rigidity characteristics of the test pieces 1 and 2 measured using the servo tester. Here, the horizontal axis of FIG. 10 shows the displacement amount [mm] of the elastomer attached to the test piece 1 and the displacement amount [mm] of the elastomer and fiber attached to the test piece 2, respectively. The vertical axis in FIG. 10 represents the compression load [N] when the elastomer attached to the test piece 1 is compressed and the compression load [N] when the elastomer and fibers attached to the test piece 2 are compressed. Show. In FIG. 10, the test result of the test piece 1 is indicated by a broken line, and the test result of the test piece 2 is indicated by a solid line.

  Referring to FIG. 10, in the test piece 1 in which only the elastomer is bonded to the metal plate, the compressive load [N] shows a change close to a straight line even when the displacement [mm] increases. On the other hand, in the test piece 2 in which the elastomer and the fiber are bonded to the metal plate, if the displacement amount [mm] is small, the compression load [N] is low, but if the displacement amount [mm] is large, the compression load [ N] was found to be high. From this result, when the periphery including the joint portion between the ball return passage 132 and the ball guide surface 135 is covered with a member made of elastomer and fiber, the joint portion is more than when covered with a member made only of elastomer. It has been found that a member covering the periphery including sac functions as a cushion material in a well-balanced manner.

<Features of Ball Screw Device (Rolling Guide Device) According to this Embodiment>
According to the above configuration, since the periphery of the connecting portion connected to the ball return passage 132 is covered with the fiber member 105, the ball screw device 200 is manufactured when the end reflector 103 is assembled to the female member 102. Regardless of whether or not a step has occurred around the connection portion (regardless of whether or not there is a step), the ball B2 (see FIG. 9) that enters the ball return passage 132 from the ball guide path 133 is always applied to the fiber member 105. It can be made to collide. Therefore, even if a step occurs around the connection portion when the ball screw device 200 is manufactured, the impact from the ball B2 can be absorbed by the fiber member 105 covering the connection portion periphery. As a result, since the durability of the ball return passage 132 and the ball B2 can be improved, the ball screw device 200 can be used for a long time.

  Thus, according to the above configuration, even if a step is generated around the connection portion in the actual manufacture of the ball screw device 200, the collision between the ball B2 and the step can be prevented at a lower cost and with higher accuracy. it can.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described based on drawing, it cannot be overemphasized that a specific structure is not limited to these embodiment. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above description of the embodiments but by the scope of claims for patent, and further includes all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of claims for patent.

  In the first embodiment described above, an example in which the fiber member 5 is formed only on the road surface 33a of the tip portion T on the entrance side of the ball guide path 33 has been described (see FIG. 4), but the present invention is limited to this. Not. The fiber member 5 is not necessarily formed only on the road surface 33a of the tip end portion T on the entrance side of the ball guide path 33, and the fiber member 305 is replaced with a return tube (guide member) 303 as shown in FIG. The inner peripheral surface 330 may be formed on the entire surface. Here, reference numerals 300, 301, and 302 in FIG. 5 denote a ball screw device, a male member, and a female member, respectively.

  As an example of the manufacturing process of the return tube 303 shown in FIG. 5, there is a method in which the fiber member 305 is bonded to the entire inner surface of a straight metal tube precursor and the precursor is bent to obtain the return tube 303.

  In the second embodiment, the example in which the guide member is configured by the resin-made end reflector 103 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the guide member may be configured by a metal end reflector. Good.

In the first and second embodiments, the case where the present invention is applied to a ball screw device has been described as an example of a rolling guide device, but the present invention is not limited to this. As another example of the rolling guide device, the present invention may be applied to a linear guide device. This type of linear guide device is configured such that a moving block can be moved along a linear guide rail by using rolling of a ball, and is formed on both side surfaces in the longitudinal direction. A guide rail (first member) having one groove and a moving block (second member) having a second groove formed opposite to the first groove and movable relative to the guide rail ), A retainer portion formed with a return passage extending along a track formed between the first groove and the second groove, and a direction in a state assembled to both longitudinal ends of the retainer portion. And a pair of side lids capable of forming a conversion path (guide path). Here, a circulation path is constituted by the track path, the return path, and the direction change path. In this type of linear guide device, the ball whose direction changes easily collides with the inner peripheral surface of the circulation path, for example, the periphery of the boundary between the track path and the direction change path (guide path), and the return path. By covering the periphery of the boundary between the direction change path (guide path) with a fiber member made of a fiber impregnated with rubber, the ball whose direction changes easily collides with the inner peripheral surface of the circulation path. Can surely collide with the fiber member. Therefore, the impact from the ball can be absorbed by the fiber member. Here, the fiber member is not necessarily formed around the boundary portion between the track path and the direction change path (guide path) and around the boundary portion between the return path and the direction change path (guide path). Instead, it may be formed on the entire inner peripheral surface of the circulation path.

  In the first embodiment, the return tube 3 is bonded to each other with a pair of tube pieces 6 (see FIG. 3) having symmetrical shapes with respect to a mating surface that can be divided into left and right. Although the example which manufactures 3 was described, this invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 11A, the return tube 403 is manufactured by bonding a pair of tube pieces 406 having a shape that is not symmetrical with respect to a mating surface that can be divided into left and right as shown in FIG. May be. In addition, the thick line in Fig.11 (a) shows the mating surface of a pair of tube piece 406. In FIG. FIG.11 (b) is a perspective view which shows the outer side shape of the tube piece which divided | segmented the return tube into right and left. FIG.11 (c) is a perspective view which shows the inner side shape of the tube piece which divided | segmented the return tube into right and left. As shown in FIG. 11C, an inner peripheral surface for a ball passage is formed inside the tube piece 406.

1, 101 Male member (first member)
2,102 Female member (second member)
3, 303, 403 Return tube (tubular member)
4 fixing member 5, 105, 305 fiber member 6, 406 tube piece 10, 110 outer peripheral surface 11, 111 male groove (first groove)
20, 30, 120, 330 Inner peripheral surface 21, 121 Female groove (second groove)
22 outer peripheral surface 23 notch 31 circulation path 32, 132 ball return path 33, 133 ball guide path (guide path)
33a Road surface 100, 200, 300 Ball screw device (rolling guide device)
103 End reflector (guide member)
122 Contact part 134 Ball scooping part 135 Ball guide surface 135a Tip part B1, B2 Ball P1, P2 Ball rolling path T Tip part

Claims (5)

A first member formed with a first groove capable of rolling the ball;
A second member formed with a second groove capable of rolling the ball;
And a circulation possible cyclic path the ball rolling between said first groove and said second groove,
The circulation path includes a guide path that can guide into the interior of the circulation path is disengaged the ball to the rolling,
The road surface of the guide path of at least the circulation path, characterized in that by entering a rubber put together by bonding the fibers to each other, the fiber member which is constituted by a stretchy fabric are al provided between the fiber A rolling guide device. The first member is
A male member having a plurality of the first grooves formed on an outer peripheral surface,
The second member is
A female member having an inner peripheral surface formed by a plurality of the second grooves facing the first grooves,
A ball rolling path formed between the first groove and the second groove and capable of rolling the ball;
The circulation path is
A ball return passage for returning the ball that has rolled on the ball rolling path to the ball rolling path;
The guideway is
Rolling guide device according to claim 1, characterized in that by releasing the ball from the ball rolling passage can be guided into the ball return path. The rolling guide device according to claim 2, comprising a tubular member made of metal, resin, or elastomer that can be attached to the female member and can form the circulation path. A metal, resin, or elastomeric guide member that can be mounted on the female member and can form the guide path,
The ball return path is
The rolling guide device according to claim 2, wherein the rolling guide device is formed inside the female member. The guideway is
A connecting portion connected to the ball return passage;
Around the connection part,
The rolling guide device according to claim 4, wherein the rolling guide device is covered with the fiber member.