JP6316093B2 - Rolling guide device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a rolling guide device that reciprocally guides a movable body such as a table in a work table of a machine tool or a linear guide portion or a curved guide portion of various conveying devices.

  As this type of rolling guide device, one disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known. The rolling guide device disclosed therein is assembled to a raceway member via a raceway member in which a rolling surface of a rolling element is formed along a longitudinal direction and a large number of rolling elements rolling on the rolling surface. And a moving member that can reciprocate along the track member. The moving member has an infinite circulation path of rolling elements, and the rolling element circulates in the infinite circulation path, so that the moving member can move along the track member without being restricted in stroke. Yes. The infinite circulation path is a load path in which the rolling elements roll while applying a load, a no-load path that is provided in parallel with the load path and that rolls in a state where the rolling elements are released from the load, A direction change path connecting the load passage and the no-load passage.

  The moving member is fixed to both ends of the moving member main body in which the load passage and the no-load passage of the rolling member are formed, and the moving member main body cooperates with the moving member main body to change the direction of the rolling member. And a lid member that forms

  In the conventional rolling guide apparatus configured as described above, a lubricant such as grease or oil is applied to the moving member or the track member in order to prevent wear of the rolling surface of the track member and the rolling body itself due to the circulation of the rolling element. Is to be supplied. The lubricant supply path for supplying the lubricant is usually provided in the lid member. Here, the oil is a liquid lubricating oil such as sliding surface oil or turbine oil, ISOVG32 to 68, etc., and the grease is a gel-like and highly viscous oil containing a thickener. Is.

  And in this kind of rolling guide apparatus, the kind of lubricant is changed with the use environment. For example, oil is used in an environment where coolant such as a machine tool is scattered, and grease is used in an environment where the moving member is moved at a high speed with respect to the track member. As described above, the grease is in a gel form, whereas the oil is in a liquid form, and the properties of both are different. For this reason, when grease is used as the lubricant, the cross-sectional area of the lubricant supply path needs to be wide, and when oil is used as the lubricant, the cross-sectional area of the lubricant supply path needs to be narrowed.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-083500

  Since the cross-sectional area of the lubricant supply path differs depending on the type of the lubricant, it is necessary to manufacture a rolling guide device according to the type of the lubricant, and there is a problem that the production cost increases accordingly. On the other hand, since the cross-sectional area of the grease specification lubricant supply path is set to be larger than that of the oil specification, a member that reduces the cross-sectional area of the lubricant supply path with respect to the grease specification rolling guide device A means has been devised to change the oil guide to a rolling guide device with oil specifications.

  However, in the rolling guide device having such a separate member attached, since the cross-sectional area of the lubricant supply path is small, even if grease is injected into the lubricant supply path, the grease is supplied to the infinite There is a risk that it cannot be led to the circuit. As a result, grease clogging occurred in the lubricant supply path, and there was a fear that the rolling elements could not be properly lubricated. As a result, there is also a problem that a problem of the rolling guide device is caused.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a rolling guide device that can use either grease or oil as a lubricant.

  That is, the present invention provides a plurality of rolling elements, a track member having a rolling element rolling surface on which the rolling elements roll, and assembled to the track member via the rolling elements and movable along the track member. A moving member main body having a load passage through which the rolling element rolls while applying a load, a rolling member return passage parallel to the load passage, and a moving member main body of the moving member main body. A pair of lid members that are fixed to both ends in the moving direction and that connect the load passage and the rolling element return passage to form a direction changing path that forms an infinite circulation path of the rolling element.

  The lid member includes a lubricant introduction path into which a lubricant is injected, a guide passage that guides grease to the direction change path, and a lubricant supply path that connects the lubricant introduction path and the guide passage. An intermediate flow path to be formed, and an application body having a plurality of voids that face the intermediate flow path and have one end in contact with the surface of the track member and impregnated with oil.

  In the present invention, when grease is supplied as a lubricant, the grease is supplied to the direction change path through the intermediate flow path and the guide flow path without being impregnated in the gap of the application body. On the other hand, when oil is supplied as a lubricant, the oil enters the application body and is supplied to the track member. That is, according to the present invention, it is possible to use both grease and oil as the lubricant, which is rich in versatility compared to conventional rolling guide devices.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the outline | summary of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows an example of embodiment of the rolling guide apparatus to which this invention is applied. It is the front view which removed the cover member in the rolling guide apparatus shown in FIG. It is a side view which shows the coupling body belt integrated in the rolling guide apparatus based on FIG. It is a top view of the coupling body belt shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 5. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the lid member shown in FIG. 2. It is the front view which observed the end plate drawn by FIG. 7 from the block main body side. It is the front view which observed the end plate drawn by FIG. 7 from the moving direction outer side of the moving member.

  First, the outline of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  A rolling guide device to which the present invention is applied is a moving member having an endless circulation path that is assembled to the track rail 101 via a track rail 101 as a track member and a ball 105 as a rolling element, and the ball 105 circulates. Moving block 102. The infinite circulation path is provided in a state where the ball 105 rolls between the track rail 101 while applying a load, and is provided in parallel with the load path 121 and the ball 105 is released from the load. A ball return path 122 as a rolling element return path that rolls and a direction change path 123 that connects the load path 121 and the ball return path 122 are configured.

  The moving block 102 is fixed to the block main body 103 as a moving member main body having the load passage 121 and the ball return passage 122, and is fixed to both end surfaces in the axial direction of the block main body 103, and cooperates with the block main body 103. And a pair of lid members 104 that form the direction changing path 123.

  In the rolling guide device to which the present invention is configured as described above, a lubricant is applied to the endless circulation path of the moving block 102 or the surface of the track rail 1 in order to realize smooth movement of the moving block 102 with respect to the track rail 101. It comes to be supplied. Here, there are two types of lubricants: sliding oil or turbine oil, liquid oil such as ISOVG32 to 68, and gel grease containing a thickener in the oil.

  A mechanism for supplying the lubricant is formed in the lid member 104. This mechanism includes a lubricant introduction path 141 through which lubricant is injected from the outside of the moving block 102, a guide passage 142 for guiding grease as a lubricant to the direction change path 123, and the lubricant introduction path 141. It includes an intermediate flow path 143 that connects the guide flow path 142 to form the lubricant supply path 140, and an application body 108 that faces the intermediate flow path 143 and has one end contacting the surface of the track rail 101. A plurality of voids impregnated with oil as a lubricant is formed in the application body 108.

  In the present invention formed as described above, when oil is used as the lubricant, when oil flows into the intermediate flow path 143, it does not flow into the guide flow path 142 but impregnates the gap of the application body 108. Is done. Thereafter, the oil is supplied to the track rail 101. On the other hand, when grease is used as the lubricant, the grease is supplied to the direction changing path 123 through the guide channel 142 without impregnating the coated body 108. Thus, according to the present invention, it is possible to use both grease and oil as the lubricant.

  A specific example of the rolling guide device to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of an embodiment of a rolling guide device to which the present invention is applied. This rolling guide device comprises a track rail 1 formed in a straight line, and a moving block 2 which is assembled to the track rail 1 via a plurality of balls and has an infinite circulation path for the balls. By circulating through the infinite circulation path, the moving block 2 can be guided along the track rail 1 so as to freely reciprocate.

  The track rail 1 is formed in a long body having a substantially rectangular cross section. Protrusions 10 are provided on both side surfaces of the track rail 1 along the longitudinal direction. A single ball rolling surface 11 as a rolling element rolling surface is provided in the vertical direction of each protrusion 10, and four ball rolling surfaces 11 are provided as the entire track rail. Further, the track rail 1 is formed with bolt mounting holes 12 penetrating from the top surface to the bottom surface at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction. The bolt hole 12 is used when the track rail 1 is fixed to a fixing portion such as a bed or a column.

  On the other hand, the moving block 2 includes a block main body 3 and a pair of lid members 4 attached to both ends of the block main body 3 in the moving direction. FIG. 2 shows a state in which one lid member 4 is removed from the block body 3 and the lid member 4 is further disassembled. The lid member 4 will be described in detail later.

  FIG. 3 is a front view of the rolling guide device with the lid member 4 removed. The block main body 3 has a horizontal portion 3a facing the upper surface of the track rail 1 and a pair of leg portions 3b facing both side surfaces of the track rail 1, and the track rail 1 is between the pair of leg portions 3b. Be contained. Further, the horizontal portion 3a of the block body 3 is provided with a tap hole 20 for fixing the object to be conveyed with a bolt.

  Further, a load ball rolling surface 30 of the ball 5 facing the ball rolling surface 11 of the track rail 1 is provided inside the leg portion 3 b facing the track rail 1. When the loaded ball rolling surface 30 and the ball rolling surface 11 of the track rail 1 face each other, a load ball passage 31 through which the ball 5 rolls while applying a load between the track rail 1 and the moving block 2 is formed. Composed. Two load ball rolling surfaces 30 are provided on the inner surface of each leg 3b, and four load ball passages 31 are provided in the block body 3. Each leg 3b is provided with a ball return passage 32 substantially parallel to each load ball passage 31, and the ball 5 rolls in the ball return passage 32 in a state of being released from the load.

  The block body 3 is combined with the lid member 4 to form a direction changing path for the ball 5. This direction change path connects the load ball path 31 and the ball return path 32, and the block main body 3 and the lid member 4 combine to form the load ball path 31, the direction change path, the ball return path 32, and the direction. The infinite circulation path of the ball 5 that makes a round in the order of the conversion path is completed.

  Four end guides 33 are formed on the end face of the block body 3 to form the direction change path. Each inner peripheral guide portion 33 protrudes in a semicircular shape from the end surface of the block body 3 and is provided between the load ball passage 31 and the ball return passage 32 corresponding thereto. An inner peripheral guide surface 34 on which the ball 5 rolls is formed on the outer peripheral surface of each inner peripheral guide portion 33, and one end of the inner peripheral guide surface 34 is connected to the load ball rolling surface 30 and the other end. Is continuous with the ball return passage 32.

  3, reference numeral 35 denotes a tapped hole used for fixing the lid member 4, reference numeral 36 denotes a seal member for sealing between the side surface of the track rail 1 and the leg 3b of the block body 3, and reference numeral 37 denotes the track rail. 1 is a sealing member that seals between the upper surface of 1 and the horizontal portion 3a of the block body 3.

  The balls 5 are incorporated in the endless circuit in a state of being arranged on a flexible connecting belt 6. 4 to 6 show the ball 5 and the connecting belt 6. The connecting body belt 6 includes a plurality of spacers 60 disposed between the balls 5 and a pair of belt members 61 that connect the spacers 60, and is formed by injection molding of a synthetic resin. Each spacer 60 is arranged so that its axis coincides with a straight line connecting the center points of the adjacent balls 5, and a spherical seat 62 having a curvature approximate to the spherical surface of the ball 5 is provided on the contact surface with the ball 5. Is provided. That is, in a state where the ball 5 is disposed between the pair of spacers 60, the ball 5 is held by the spherical seat 62 of these spacers 60.

  On the other hand, the pair of belt members 61 are connected to each other on the circumferential side surface of the spacer 60 to couple the plurality of spacers 60 in a row. As shown in FIG. 5, each belt member 61 is formed in, for example, a flat band shape, and an arc-shaped notch 63 that avoids interference with the ball 5 is provided on a surface facing the spacer 60. With such a configuration, the balls 5 are held in a row at equal intervals on the connecting belt 6 in a rotatable state. Therefore, when the moving block 2 moves along the track rail 1, the ball 5 rolls in the endless circuit while rolling, and the connecting belt 6 also circulates in the endless circuit.

  Next, the lid member 4 will be described with reference to FIGS. The lid member 4 is attached to an end portion of the block main body 3 and is formed in substantially the same shape as the end surface of the block main body 3. An end plate 7 fixed to both end surfaces in the axial direction of the block main body 3, an application body 8 fitted to the end plate 7, and an end seal fixed to the end plate 7 so as to cover the application body 8 9.

  8 and 9 show the end plate 7, FIG. 8 is a front view showing a surface facing the block body 3, and FIG. 9 is a front view showing a surface facing the end seal 9. The end plate 7 is formed in substantially the same shape as the end surface of the block body 3, and four semicircular recesses 71 are formed on the surface facing the block body 3. An outer peripheral guide surface 72 constituting the direction changing path is formed on the inner peripheral surface of each recess 71. Four recesses 71 are provided corresponding to the ball rolling surface 11 of the track rail 1, and two recesses 71 are provided for each side surface of the track rail 1.

  The end plate 7 is formed with an introduction hole 73 into which a lubricant is injected from the outside of the rolling guide device. The introduction hole 73 penetrates along the axial direction of the moving block 2. Further, a supply groove 74 into which the lubricant flows is formed in the end plate 7. The supply groove 74 is open toward the block body 3. One end of the supply groove 74 is continuous with the introduction hole 73, and the other end is continuous with the first connection hole 74a. The first connecting hole 74 a is formed in a circular cross section and penetrates along the axial direction of the end plate 7.

  Furthermore, a guide groove 75 is formed in a region surrounded by the two recessed portions 71. The guide groove 75 is branched toward the recesses 71 and plays a role of guiding the lubricant to the recesses 71. On the other hand, one end of the guide groove 75 is continuous with the second connection hole 75a. The second connection hole 75a is formed in a circular cross section like the first connection hole 74a, and penetrates along the axial direction of the end plate 7. Further, the cross-sectional area of the second connection hole 75a is set smaller than the cross-sectional area of the first connection hole 74a.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9, an outer wall portion 76 into which the end seal 9 is fitted is formed on the surface facing the end seal 9. Two concave portions 77 into which the application body 8 is fitted are formed in the outer wall portion 76. The recess 77 is formed in substantially the same shape as the application body 8. Each recess 77 has two openings 77 a, and each opening 77 a is opened toward each ball rolling surface 11 of the track rail 1.

  Further, a supply path forming groove 78 into which the lubricant flows is formed on the bottom surface of the recess 77. The supply path forming groove 78 is open toward the end seal 9. One end of the supply path forming groove 78 communicates with the first connection hole 74a, and the other end communicates with the second connection hole 75a. That is, in the end plate 7, the supply groove 74 and the guide groove 75 are connected via the supply path forming groove 78. Further, the groove width of the supply path forming groove 78 is gradually reduced from one end connected to the first connecting hole 74a toward one end connected to the second connecting hole 75a. Reference numeral 79 denotes a fixing hole used when the end plate 7 is fixed to the block body 3.

  Next, the application body 8 that fits into the recess 77 will be described. This application body 8 is formed from a nonwoven fabric or the like, for example, and has a plurality of voids inside. These plural voids are impregnated with oil as a lubricant. The application body 8 has substantially the same shape as the concave portion 77, and has a lip portion 81 fitted into the opening 77 a of the concave portion 77. The application bodies 8 formed in this way are fitted into the recesses 77 and are accommodated in two by the end plate 7. Further, when each application body 8 is fitted into the recess 77, the lip 81 protrudes outside the end plate 7 through the opening 77a. As described above, since the opening 77 a is formed at a position facing the ball rolling surface 11 of the track rail 1, the lip portion 81 is in contact with the ball rolling surface 11. .

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, the end seal 9 is formed slightly smaller than the end plate 7, and is fitted inside the outer wall portion 76 of the end plate 7. The end seal 9 is formed with a lubricant injection hole 91 penetrating along the axial direction, and the lubricant injection hole 91 communicates with the introduction hole 73. Further, a seal member 92 is mounted on the end seal 9 (see FIG. 2). The seal member 92 seals the gap between the lid member 4 and the track rail 1, and dust or the like adhering to the track rail 1 is a moving block. 2 is prevented from entering inside. Further, a cover body 93 is disposed between the end seal 9 and the application body 8. The cover body 93 is provided to fix the application body 8 to the end plate 7. However, the cover body 93 may be omitted. Reference numeral 94 denotes a fixing hole used when the end plate 9 is fixed to the end plate 7.

  Next, a method for assembling the rolling guide device according to the present embodiment including these members and the lubricant supply path will be described. In this rolling guide device, when the application body 8 is first fitted to the end plate 7, the supply path forming groove 78 is covered with the application body 8. Thereby, the intermediate flow path into which the lubricant flows is completed. That is, the application body 8 faces the intermediate flow path. As described above, the groove width of the supply path forming groove 78 gradually decreases from one end connected to the first connection hole 74a toward one end connected to the second connection hole 75a. The cross-sectional area of the road gradually decreases from the first connection hole 74a toward the second connection hole 75a. Further, when the end seal 9 is fixed to the end plate 7 so as to cover the application body 8, the lubricant injection hole 91 and the introduction hole 73 communicate with each other.

  When the lid member 4 is fixed to the block body 3, the supply groove 74 is covered by the end surface of the block body 3, and a continuous lubricant introduction path from the lubricant injection hole 91 to the first connection hole 74a is completed. . Further, the guide groove 75 is covered, and a lubricant guide channel between the lid member 4 and the block body 3 is completed. Here, since the guide groove 75 is continuous with the second connecting hole 75a, the second connecting hole 75a constitutes the entrance of the guide channel. Eventually, a lubricant supply path in which the lubricant introduction path, the intermediate flow path, and the guide flow path communicate with each other is completed.

  Further, when the lid member 4 is fixed to the block body 3 and the moving block 2 is completed, the outer peripheral guide surface 72 and the inner peripheral guide surface 34 face each other, thereby completing the direction change path of the ball 5. Further, by assembling the moving block 2 assembled in this way to the track rail 1, an infinite circulation path of the ball 5 that makes a round in the order of the load ball path 31, the direction change path, the ball return path 32, and the direction change path is completed. .

  In the rolling guide device of the present embodiment having the above-described configuration, when the lubricant is injected into the moving block 2 from the lubricant injection hole 91, the lubricant is injected into the lubricant injection hole 91, the introduction hole 73, the supply groove. The lubricant introduction path flows in the order of 74 and the first connection hole 74a. Thereafter, the lubricant flows through the intermediate flow path. And it flows to the said direction change path through the guidance flow path which consists of said 2nd connection hole 75a and the guidance groove | channel 75. FIG.

  In the rolling guide device according to the present embodiment configured as described above, the application body 8 faces the intermediate flow path. Further, the application body 8 is configured such that a gap for absorbing the oil is formed, but grease to which a thickener is added cannot enter the gap. For this reason, when grease as a lubricant is injected into the lubricant introduction path and this grease flows into the intermediate flow path, the grease passes through the induction flow path and is not absorbed by the application body 8. Supplied to the direction change path. As a result, it is possible to lubricate the balls 5 in the infinite circulation path.

  On the other hand, the cross-sectional area of the intermediate channel gradually decreases from the lubricant introduction channel toward the guide channel. In addition, the cross-sectional area of the first connecting hole 74a is set smaller than the cross-sectional area of the second connecting hole 75a. That is, the cross-sectional area of the lubricant introduction path is set smaller than the cross-sectional area of the guide flow path. Therefore, in the intermediate flow path, the lubricant easily flows from the lubricant introduction path to the induction flow path, but when flowing to the induction flow path, the flow resistance against the lubricant is low. It comes to work. As a result, the lubricant tends to stay in the intermediate flow path in the lubricant supply path. Therefore, when oil as a lubricant is injected into the lubricant supply path, the oil is hardly supplied to the direction change path through the guide flow path, and is preferentially impregnated into the gap of the application body 8. The Then, due to capillary action, oil flows through the application body 8 and is supplied to the ball rolling surface 11 of the track rail 1.

  In the rolling guide device according to the present embodiment configured as described above, a supply path through which only oil flows and a supply path through which only grease flows coexist in the lid member 4. It is applicable and is more versatile than conventional rolling guide devices. As a result, according to the rolling guide device to which the present invention is applied, it is not necessary to mass-produce the rolling guide device according to the type of lubricant, and the production cost can be suppressed.

  In the rolling guide device according to the above-described embodiment, a ball is used as the rolling element, but a roller may be used as the rolling element.

  Further, in the rolling guide device according to the above-described embodiment, the track rail 1 is formed in a straight line and constitutes a straight guide device. In the present invention, for example, the track rail 1 is formed in a curved shape with a constant curvature. The present invention can also be applied to a curved guide device.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 ... Track rail (track member), 102 ... Moving block (moving member), 103 ... Moving block main body (moving member main body), 104 ... Cover member, 105 ... Ball (rolling body), 108 ... Application body, 121 ... Load Reference numeral 122: Ball return path (rolling element return path), 123: Direction change path, 140: Lubricant supply path, 141: Lubricant introduction path, 142 ... Induction flow path, 143: Intermediate flow path

Claims (4)

A plurality of rolling elements, a track member having a rolling element rolling surface on which the rolling elements roll, and a movable member that is assembled to the track member via the rolling elements and is movable along the track member. Prepared,
The moving member is fixed to both ends of the moving member main body in a moving direction, and a moving member main body having a load passage through which the rolling element rolls while applying a load, and a rolling member return passage parallel to the load passage, A pair of lid members that connect the load passage and the rolling element return passage to form a direction change path that forms an infinite circulation path of the rolling element, and
The lid member forms a lubricant supply path by connecting the lubricant introduction path and the guide flow path, and a lubricant introduction path into which the lubricant is injected, a guide flow path for guiding the grease to the direction change path, and A rolling guide device comprising: an intermediate flow path; and an application body that faces the intermediate flow path and has one end contacting the surface of the track member and having a plurality of voids impregnated with oil. The rolling guide device according to claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional area of the guide passage is set smaller than a cross-sectional area of the lubricant introduction passage. The rolling guide device according to claim 2, wherein a cross-sectional area of the intermediate flow path gradually decreases from the lubricant introduction path toward the guide flow path. The said cover member is provided with the supply path formation groove | channel which makes a part of said intermediate flow path, The said application body covers this supply path formation groove | channel, The said intermediate flow path is divided, The said flow path is characterized by the above-mentioned. Rolling guide device.

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