JP7459187B2 - Linear guide - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a linear guide, and more particularly to a miniature linear guide that can improve assembly efficiency.

In Patent Document 1, the retainer is sealed in a curved shape by combining two fastening parts and two straight parts.
The cage is manufactured by welding or gluing multiple parts molded from metal wire, which not only takes time and effort to manufacture, but also makes the overall structure weak. In addition, the retainer is not only difficult to remove, but also difficult to assemble, and is easily damaged and deformed, so the retaining effect is not very good, and it may press the balls and interfere with their operation.

In Patent Document 2, the holder is composed of a holding part and two locking hooks. Each side cap has a locking groove corresponding to a locking hook and a guide surface adjacent to the locking groove. The guiding surface has a slope facing the side cap. The slope can reduce resistance during assembly work.
However, the cage is thin and difficult to remove. The distal end of the guiding surface has a large resistance. Therefore, assembly work is difficult. Furthermore, since the cage has multiple sections that are curved, they often become entangled. When performing assembly work, a process of separating intertwined parts is required, which increases costs.

In Patent Document 3, the retainer has a straight portion and two arc-shaped tightening portions.
The cage is made entirely of thin steel wire, so it is difficult to remove. In addition, when fitting the arcuate tightening parts at both ends of the retainer into the arcuate grooves of the two side caps, it is not only difficult to aim, but also force must be applied to fit them, making the assembly process inconvenient. be.

On the other hand, for miniature linear guides with a height of 1 cm and a width of 2 cm or less, the cage is not only small in size, but also requires manual assembly, which increases assembly efficiency and productivity. That becomes an issue.

Patent Publication No. 2632126B2 TWI440784 publication US5544954 publication

The main objective of the present invention is to provide a miniature linear guide that can improve assembly efficiency and automate assembly.

To solve the above-mentioned problems, a miniature linear guide includes a rail, a block, one or more circulation members, a plurality of balls and a holder. The block is movably arranged on the rail and has a middle part and two side parts. The two side parts face each other and are connected to the middle part. One or more circulation members are connected to the block and movably disposed on the rail, thereby providing a circulation path between the circulation member, the rail, and the two sides of the block. Each circulation member has a plurality of convex turning portions. The holder has a top plate, a plurality of positioning parts, and two holding parts. Both ends of each holding part are connected to the top plate by positioning parts. The top plate of the holder is arranged so as to be in contact with the middle part of the block. Each positioning portion of the retainer is arranged to abut a convex turning portion of the circulation member. Each holding part of the cage is arranged so as to abut the plurality of balls. The width of the top plate of the retainer is smaller than the distance between the plurality of convex turning portions of each circulation member.

To summarize the features of the above-mentioned structure, the assembly work is completed by simply pushing the holder of the miniature linear guide according to the present invention between the blocks along the direction of the blocks. Therefore, since the assembly work is simple, it is possible not only to improve the efficiency of the assembly work and reduce the assembly cost, but also to realize automation of the assembly.

In a relatively preferred embodiment, the rail has a first rolling groove and a retaining groove in contact with the first rolling groove on both sides. Each side of the block has a second rolling groove and a non-load path. Each second rolling groove of the block corresponds to a first rolling groove of the rail, so that a load path is formed between the first rolling groove of the rail. Each non-load path passes through the opposing end faces of one side. There are two circulating members. The two circulating members are disposed on the two opposing end faces of the block, and each has two convex direction change portions and two return grooves. Each return groove is in contact with the convex direction change portion, and both ends are connected to one end of the load path and one end of the non-load path, thereby combining the load path, the non-load path, and the two return grooves to form a circulating path. Each retaining portion of the cage is placed in the retaining groove of the rail and abuts against balls passing through multiple load paths.

In a more preferable case, the rail has a first rolling groove and a retaining groove in contact with the first rolling groove on both sides. Each side of the block has two mutually parallel second rolling grooves and two opposing first return grooves. The second rolling grooves on each side of the block and the first rolling groove of the rail are combined to form a load path. There is one circulating member. The circulating member further has two opposing mating grooves and four convex direction changing portions. Each mating groove has a third rolling groove and two opposing second return grooves around it. Each second return groove is connected to both ends of the third rolling groove. Each side of the block has one second rolling groove corresponding to the first rolling groove of the rail, another one second rolling groove corresponding to one third rolling groove of the circulating member, and each first return groove corresponding to the second return groove of the circulating member, so that the first rolling groove, the multiple second rolling grooves, the third rolling groove, the multiple first return grooves and the multiple second return grooves are combined to form a circulating path. Each of the second return grooves is positioned to contact the convex turning portion and is simultaneously connected to the load path. Each of the retaining portions of the cage is seated in the retaining groove of the rail and abuts against balls passing through the multiple load paths.

In a relatively preferred case, the middle part of the block has a recess on the bottom surface. The top plate of the cage has a convex portion on the top surface. The convex portion of the retainer fits into the concave portion of the block, thereby improving the positioning effect between the two.

In a relatively preferred case, each circulation member has a plurality of positioning blocks. Each positioning block enters the storage groove from the convex direction changing portion along the extending direction of the rail. By fitting each positioning portion of the cage with one positioning block of the circulation member, it is possible to improve the positioning effect between the two.

In a relatively preferred case, the cage has a plurality of wings. Each wing extends from the positioning part along the direction opposite to the top plate until it comes into contact with the outer end surface of the circulation member, thereby improving the structural stability of the retainer.

In a relatively preferred case, each circulation member has a plurality of columnar positioning portions on its outer end surface. Each wing of the retainer has a positioning hole. By fitting each positioning hole of the retainer with the columnar positioning part of each circulation member, it is possible to improve the positioning effect between the two.

In a relatively preferred case, the cage has a plurality of wings. Each wing extends upward from one end of the retainer until it abuts the outer end surface of the circulation member, thereby improving the structural stability of the retainer.

In a relatively preferable case, the holding part has a rectangular cross-sectional shape and a width-to-thickness ratio of 1.5 or more, so that it can not only maintain sufficient structural strength but also be less prone to deformation and provide a good positioning effect. do.

In a relatively preferable case, each positioning part has a rectangular cross-sectional shape and a length-to-thickness ratio of 1.5 or more, which not only maintains sufficient structural strength but also prevents deformation and provides a good positioning effect. I will provide a.

The detailed structure, features, assembly or usage method of the miniature linear guide according to the present invention will be made clear through the detailed description of the embodiments below. It should be noted that the following detailed description and the embodiments disclosed by the present invention are merely examples for explaining the present invention, and it will be understood by those having common sense in the field related to the present invention that the scope of the claims of the present invention cannot be limited. If so, you should be able to understand it.

1 is a perspective view showing a miniature linear guide according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a miniature linear guide according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 1. FIG. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a portion of the miniature linear guide according to the first embodiment of the present invention, excluding the rails. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the components shown in FIG. 5; FIG. 2 is a plan view of the components of the miniature linear guide according to the first embodiment of the present invention, excluding the rails, viewed from below. 1 is a perspective view showing a retainer of a miniature linear guide according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 in FIG. 8. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 10-10 in FIG. 8. FIG. It is an exploded perspective view showing a part of parts of a miniature linear guide according to a second embodiment of the present invention, excluding the rails. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing parts of a miniature linear guide according to a second embodiment of the present invention, excluding the rails. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a portion of a miniature linear guide according to a third embodiment of the present invention, excluding a rail. It is a perspective view which shows the holder of the miniature linear guide by 4th Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing parts of a miniature linear guide according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, excluding the rails. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing parts of a miniature linear guide according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, excluding the rails. It is a perspective view which shows the components of the miniature linear guide by 5th Embodiment of this invention except the rail. It is a perspective view which shows the holder of the miniature linear guide by 6th Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the components of the miniature linear guide by 6th Embodiment of this invention except for the rail. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing parts of a miniature linear guide according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention, excluding the rails. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing parts of a miniature linear guide according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention, excluding the rails. It is a perspective view which shows the miniature linear guide by 8th Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing parts of a miniature linear guide according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention, excluding the rails. 24 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 24-24 in FIG. 22. 25 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 25-25 in FIG. 22.

Hereinafter, a miniature linear guide according to the present invention will be explained based on the drawings. Note that in the specification and drawings, directional terms are expressed based on the direction in the drawings. The same reference numerals indicate features of the construction of the same or similar parts.

(First embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 1, the miniature linear guide 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is applied to small precision equipment or spatially restricted environments, and has a height of about 1 cm and a width of about 1 cm. It is about 2 cm.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the miniature linear guide 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a rail 20, a block 30, two circulation members 40, a plurality of balls 50, and a retainer 60.

The rail 20 has separate first rolling grooves 22 and holding grooves 24 in contact with the first rolling grooves 22 on both left and right sides.

Block 30 has a middle section 31 and two side sections 32 . The two side parts 32 face each other and are connected to the middle part 31, and each has a second rolling groove 33 on its inner surface. The block 30 is movably arranged on the rail 20, and by making each second rolling groove 33 correspond to the first rolling groove 22 of the rail 20 one by one, the two second rolling grooves 33 of the block 30 and A load path 52 is between the two first rolling grooves 22 of the rail 20.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each side 32 further has an unloaded path 34. As shown in FIGS. The non-load path 34 passes through both front and rear end surfaces of the side portion 32.

The two circulation members 40 are disposed on both the front and rear end surfaces of the block 30, and have two convex direction changing portions 41 and two circulation grooves 42 at both left and right ends, respectively. Each of the reflux grooves 42 is in contact with the convex direction changing part 41, and by connecting one end of the load path 52 and one end of the non-load path 34 by both ends, the load path 52, the non-load path 34, and the two front and rear reflux grooves 42 are connected. are combined to form a circulation path 54 (see FIG. 3). A plurality of balls 50 roll on a circulation path 54.
As shown in FIG. 5, each circulation member 40 has a storage groove 43 in contact with a plurality of convex direction changing portions 41. As shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the holder 60 is an integral structure made of a metal material by press working, and includes a top plate 61, four positioning parts 62, and two holding parts 63.
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the top plate 61 has a rectangular shape, and the width W1 is smaller than the distance D between the convex direction changing parts 41. As shown in FIGS. The four positioning parts 62 are connected to the four corners of the top plate 61 and simultaneously connected to both ends of the holding part 63.
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, when performing the assembly work, since the width W1 of the top plate 61 is smaller than the distance D between the convex direction changing parts 41, the retainer 60 cannot be pushed into the block 30 from one direction. Once the assembly work is complete.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, after the assembly work is completed, the top plate 61 of the retainer 60 comes into contact with the intermediate portion 31 of the block 30. Each positioning portion 62 of the retainer 60 abuts against the convex direction changing portion 41 of the circulation member 40, and simultaneously positions the retainer 60 in the storage groove 43 of the circulation member 40. Each holding part 63 of the retainer 60 is placed in the retaining groove 24 of the rail 20 and comes into contact with the balls 50 passing through the plurality of load paths 52. can support.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the holding portion 63 has a rectangular cross-sectional shape and a width-to-thickness ratio of 1.5 or more, so that not only can sufficient structural strength be maintained, but deformation is less likely to occur.
As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, each positioning portion 62 has a rectangular cross-sectional shape and a length-to-thickness ratio of 1.5 or more, which not only maintains sufficient structural strength but also prevents deformation. Provides good positioning effect.

In order to improve the structural stability of the retainer 60, the following embodiments adopt a method of combining blocks 30, circulation members 40, and retainers 60 with different structures.

(Second embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 11, in the second embodiment, the intermediate portion 31 of the block 30 has a rectangular concave portion 35 on the bottom surface. The holder 60 has a rectangular convex portion 64 projecting from the top surface of the top plate 61. By pushing the retainer 60 into the block 30 and fitting the convex portion 64 of the retainer 60 into the concave portion 35 of the block 30, as shown in FIG. 12, the positioning effect between the two can be improved.

(Third embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 13, in the third embodiment, each circulation member 40 further includes two positioning blocks 44. As shown in FIG. Each positioning block 44 enters into the storage groove 43 from the convex direction changing portion 41 along the extending direction of the rail 20 . After the assembly work of the retainer 60 is completed, each positioning part 62 of the retainer 60 is fitted into the positioning block 44 of the circulation member 40 one by one, so that the positioning effect between the two can be improved.

(Fourth embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 14, in the fourth embodiment, the retainer 60 has four wings 65. Each wing portion 65 is formed to extend horizontally from the positioning portion 62 in a direction opposite to the top plate 61.
As shown in FIG. 15, after the assembly work of the retainer 60 is completed, each wing portion 65 of the retainer 60 comes into contact with the outer end surface of the circulation member 40, thereby giving the retainer 60 a gripping effect.

(Fifth embodiment)
As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, in the fifth embodiment, each circulation member 40 has two columnar positioning parts 46 on the outer end surface 45. As shown in FIGS. Each wing 65 of the retainer 60 has a positioning hole 66. The positioning hole 66 of each wing part 65 of the retainer 60 and the columnar positioning part 46 of each circulation member 40 are fitted in correspondence with each other, thereby improving the positioning effect between them.

(Sixth embodiment)
The number and arrangement positions of the wing portions 65 are not limited to those described above. As shown in FIG. 18, in the sixth embodiment, the retainer 60 has two wings 65. Two wing parts 65 are formed to protrude from both ends of the holding part 63.
As shown in FIG. 19, after the assembly work of the cage 60 is completed, the two wings 65 of the cage 60 each come into contact with the outer end surface 45 of the circulation member 40, thereby giving the cage 60 a gripping effect. .

(Seventh embodiment)
As shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, in the seventh embodiment, each circulation member 40 has a columnar positioning portion 46 on an outer end surface 45. As shown in FIGS. Each wing 65 of the retainer 60 has a positioning hole 66. The positioning holes 66 of each wing portion 65 of the retainer 60 and the columnar positioning portions 46 of each circulating member 40 are fitted in correspondence with each other, thereby improving the positioning effect between them.

(Eighth embodiment)
Although the number of circulation members 40 is two, the number is not limited to the above and can be increased or decreased depending on rails of different structures. As shown in FIGS. 22 and 23, the miniature linear guide 10' according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention includes a rail 20, a block 70, a circulation member 80, a plurality of balls 50, and a retainer 60.

The rail 20 separately has a first rolling groove 22 and a holding groove 24 in contact with the first rolling groove 22 on both sides.

Each side 72 of the block 70 has two mutually parallel second rolling grooves 73 and two opposing first return grooves 74. The first circulation groove 74 contacts both ends of the second rolling groove 73. When the block 70 is attached to the rail 20, the load path 52 (see FIG. 24) is created between the second rolling groove 73 on each side 72 of the block 70 and the first rolling groove 22 of the rail 20. Become.

The circulation member 80 further has two opposing fitting grooves 81 and four convex direction changing portions 84 . Each fitting groove 81 has a third rolling groove 82 and two opposing second return grooves 83 around it. Each second reflux groove 83 is connected to both ends of the third rolling groove 82 . If each side 72 of the block 70 is located in the fitting groove 81 of the circulation member 80, another second rolling groove 73 of each side 72 of the block 70 and a third rolling groove 73 of the circulation member 80 The rolling grooves 82 combine to form the non-load path 56. Each side 72 of the block 70 has a first reflux groove 74 corresponding to a second reflux groove 83 of the circulation member 80 .
As shown in FIG. 25, the loaded path 52, the unloaded path 56, the four first reflux grooves 74, and the four second reflux grooves 83 are combined to form the circulation path 54. A plurality of balls 50 roll on a circulation path 54.
As shown in FIG. 23, the four convex direction changing portions 84 are arranged so as to be in contact with the second circulation grooves 83, respectively.

The assembly work is completed by pushing the retainer 60 into the block 70 from one direction.
As shown in FIGS. 24 and 25, after the assembly work is completed, the top plate 61 of the retainer 60 comes into contact with the intermediate portion 71 of the block 70. Each positioning portion 62 of the retainer 60 positions the retainer 60 by coming into contact with a convex direction changing portion 84 of the circulation member 80 . Each holding part 63 of the retainer 60 is placed in the retaining groove 24 of the rail 20 and comes into contact with the balls 50 passing through the plurality of load paths 52. can support.

To summarize the features of the structure described above, the miniature linear guide according to the present invention can be assembled by simply pushing the retainer 60 into the block 30 from one direction. Therefore, the assembly work is easy and can save time and effort. In addition, the present invention improves the positioning effect by combining different structures, so it can not only effectively improve assembly efficiency and reduce assembly costs, but also realize assembly automation.

10, 10' Miniature linear guide 20 Rail 22 First rolling groove 24 Holding groove 30 Block 31 Middle part 32 Side part 33 Second rolling groove 34 Non-load path 35 Concave part 40 Circulation member 41 Convex direction change part 42 Circulation Groove 43 Storage groove 44 Positioning block 45 Outer end surface 46 Column positioning part 50 Ball 52 Load path 54 Circulation path 56 Non-load path 60 Cage 61 Top plate 62 Positioning part 63 Holding part 64 Convex part 65 Wing part 66 Positioning hole 70 Block 71 Middle part 72 Side part 73 Second rolling groove 74 First circulation groove 80 Circulation member 81 Fitting groove 82 Third rolling groove 83 Second circulation groove 84 Convex direction changing part D Between the convex direction changing parts Distance L Length of positioning part T1 Thickness of holding part T2 Thickness of positioning part W1 Width of top plate W2 Width of holding part

Claims (4)

comprising a rail, a block, one or more circulation members, a plurality of balls, and a retainer,
the block is movably disposed on the rail and has a middle section and two side sections, the two side sections being connected to two opposite sides of the middle section;
The one or more circulation members are connected to the block and movably arranged on the rail, thereby forming a plurality of circulation paths between the circulation member, the rail, and the two side portions of the block. is ,
The circulation member has a plurality of independent convex direction changing parts,
The plurality of balls are arranged to roll within the circulation path,
The holder has a top plate, a plurality of positioning parts, and two holding parts, and both ends of each holding part are connected to the top plate by the positioning parts,
In the retainer, the top plate is arranged so as to be in contact with the intermediate part of the block, each positioning part is arranged so as to be in contact with the convex direction changing part of the circulation member, and each of the holding parts is arranged so as to come into contact with the plurality of balls,
The width of the top plate of the retainer is smaller than the distance between the plurality of convex direction changing parts of each of the circulation members,
The circulation member has a plurality of positioning blocks, each of the positioning blocks protruding from the convex direction changing part along the extending direction of the rail,
A linear guide characterized in that each of the positioning portions of the retainer fits into one of the positioning blocks of the circulation member . the intermediate portion of the block has a concave portion on a bottom surface;
2. The linear guide according to claim 1, wherein the cage has a convex portion formed to protrude from the top plate, and the convex portion fits into the concave portion. The retainer further has a plurality of wing parts, and each of the wing parts extends from the positioning part along a direction opposite to the top plate until it comes into contact with an outer end surface of the circulation member. The linear guide described in item 1. The holder according to claim 1, wherein the holder further includes a plurality of wing sections, each of which extends upward from one end of the holder until it abuts an outer end surface of the circulation member. Near guide.

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