JPH04119217A - Multistage slide rail provided with operation sequence system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To maintain good slide by providing an intermediate rail stopper at the central part of the inner face of outer rail, and providing an inner stopper pressing to restrain movement stronger than an intermediate rail stopper, at the front end part of intermediate rail. CONSTITUTION:When an inner rail 5 is to be pulled out from the condition where an outer rail 2, intermediate rail 5 and inner rail 5 are overlapped with each other, the intermediate rail 3 and the inner rail 5 extend in the integrated manner, and the intermediate rail 3 extends to the maximum over an intermediate rail stopper 24 mounted on the central part of the outer rail 2. When the inner rail 5 is pulled out and the pulling out force exceeds the pressing and restraining of an inner stopper 7, the inner rail 5 is separated from the intermediate rail to extends out. Under the conditions the inner rail 5 is pushed in, then it retreats to the intermediate rail 3 to abut on the inner stopper 7, so that the pushing-in force resists against the resilience force of the intermediate rail stopper 24 to make it retreat and slide into the outer rail 2.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to a slide rail for slidably supporting a movable object such as a drawer to the main body of furniture, equipment, etc. The present invention relates to a multi-stage slide rail equipped with an operation sequence mechanism for regularizing the slide order when extending and retracting the slide rail.

<Prior Art> As a mechanism for slidably supporting a movable body such as a drawer on a main body, a multistage slide rail including an outer rail, an intermediate rail, and an inner rail is used.

The basic structure of this slide rail is an outer rail with a substantially C-shaped cross section, which has bent sides on both sides in the longitudinal direction, and a ball transfer groove on the inner surface of the bent sides, and an outer rail with bent sides on both sides in the longitudinal direction. It consists of an intermediate rail having a side part and a ball rolling groove on the outer and inner surfaces of the bent side part, and an inner rail that is U-shaped in cross section and has a ball rolling groove on the outer surface of the side part,
An intermediate rail is placed inside the outer rail (between the bent sides),
The inner rails are inserted into the interior of the intermediate rail (between the bent sides), and the plurality of balls held in the pole retainer so as to be freely transferable are inserted into the ball rolling groove of the outer rail, the pole transfer groove of the intermediate rail, and the intermediate rail. This structure is interposed between the ball transfer groove of the rail and the ball transfer groove of the inner rail.

Conventionally, in this type of slide rail, no particular measures have been taken to control the order in which the two rails slide with respect to the extension and retraction of each rail. For this reason, the sliding order of each rail during extension and retraction was different. In other words, when a movable object such as a drawer supported inside the cabinet is pulled out from the cabinet, the inner rail is extended first, and then the intermediate rail is extended (Fig. 6 (a) → (b I)).
-(c) and the case where the intermediate rail with the inner rail extends first, and then the inner rail extends from the intermediate rail (Fig. 6(a) -(bz) = (c))
There was. Furthermore, even when the multi-stage rails are retracted into the cabinet from the state where they are pulled out to the maximum, there are cases where each rail slides from Fig. 6(c) to Fig. 6(bl), and cases where each rail slides from Fig. 6(c) to Fig. 6(bl). c) to Figure 6 (b2)
There were times when each rail would slide.

<Problem to be solved by the invention> However, in the case of extension, Fig. 6(a) = (bl
)→(c) and the case of sliding in the order shown in Fig. 6 (
a) = (bt) - (c) Even when sliding and retracting in the order shown in Fig. 6 (c) = (
When sliding in the order shown in bl)→(a), and when sliding in the order shown in 6th
In Figure (c)-(bz) → (a) and the case where each rail slides, the slide process of the rail, especially from the intermediate extension state (Fig. 6 (bl) or (b,)) to the maximum extension state (Fig. 6 (bl) or (b,)) There is a big difference in the effect on the bent side of the outer rail when it is extended as shown in Figure 6 (C) or when it is retracted from the maximum extension state to the intermediate extension state.

That is, when extending from (bl) to (c) in Figure 6, the ball interposed between the bent sides of the outer rail and the intermediate rail rolls forward while supporting the weight of the drawer, inner rail, and intermediate rail. move on.

At this time, the ball rolls while pressing the inner surface of the curved side portion of the outer rail, so that the curved side portion may be deformed by the load. Also, from Figure 6(c) (
bl), the ball similarly rolls while pressing the inner surface of the bent side, deforming the bent side. Such deformation is a fatal flaw that prevents the rail from sliding smoothly in slide rails such as drawers, which require the inner shape of the bent side to match the spherical surface of the ball with high precision. It was also accompanied by

On the other hand, when extending from (a) to (b2) in Fig. 6, the balls interposed between the bent sides of the outer rail and the intermediate rail are already pulled out to the maximum and roll. It supports the weight of the drawer, the entire inner rail, and the intermediate rail while standing still. Similarly, when retracting from (c) to (b) in FIG. It will support the weight of the rail. For this reason, there may be slight impressions of the ball on the inner surface of the bent side of the outer rail, but
The bent side is deformed, as in the case of extending from (a) to (b + ) - (c) in the figure or the case of retraction from (c) to (bl) - (a> in Fig. 6). It is not something that will prevent the rail from sliding properly.

Therefore, in order to protect the inner surface of the bent side part of the outer rail and maintain good sliding, each rail constituting the multi-stage slide rail is
) in the order shown in Figure 6(c) = (bz
) - A multistage slide rail is desired in which the sliding order of the rails is controlled to be constant so that the slide rails are retracted in the order shown in (a).

In this invention, when a movable body (inner rail) such as a drawer is extended, a large dynamic load is applied to the ball portion interposed between the bent side portions of the outer rail and the intermediate rail.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-stage slide rail equipped with an operation sequence mechanism for controlling the sliding order of the inner rail at a constant level when extending and retracting in order to prevent damage to the outer rail.

<Means for Solving the Problems> In order to achieve the above object, the slide rail of the present invention has a side inner surface of an outer rail having a substantially C-shaped cross section, a side outer surface of an intermediate rail having a substantially C-shaped cross section, and , a plurality of balls held by a ball retainer are interposed between the inner side surface of the intermediate rail and the outer side surface of the inner rail having a substantially U-shaped cross section, and the intermediate rail is disposed inside the outer rail.
In a slide rail in which inner rails are fitted inside intermediate rails so as to be slidable in the longitudinal direction, an intermediate rail stopper is provided at the center of the inner surface of the outer rail to control the order of operation by suppressing pressure on the intermediate rails, and The present invention is characterized in that it is equipped with an operation sequence mechanism, which includes an inner rail stopper provided at the front end of the intermediate rail to control the operation sequence by suppressing the inner rail from being pressed from left and right more strongly than the intermediate rail stopper.

When the rail is extended, the intermediate rail that holds the entire length of the inner rail from within the outer rail finishes sliding to its maximum extent, and then the inner rail slides and extends from within the intermediate rail. It will be done. Further, when the rail is retracted, the inner rail retracts and slides into the intermediate rail, and then the intermediate rail holding the inner rail retracts and slides into the outer rail.

Therefore, regularity is maintained in the operation of the intermediate rail and inner rail, and the dynamic load during rail operation is reduced to the ball portion interposed between the outer rail and the intermediate rail and the ball portion interposed between the intermediate rail and inner rail. be forcibly distributed into parts.

<Example> Hereinafter, a slide rail according to the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings.

1 and 2 are an overall perspective view and an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a slide rail according to the present invention.

The slide rail 1 includes an outer rail 2, an intermediate rail 3, an inner rail 5, a ball retainer 4, and a ball retainer 6 having the same configuration as the ball retainer 4.
The intermediate rail 3 is slidably joined to the outer rail 2 in the longitudinal direction via the pole 44 which is held by the ball retainer 4 in a rolling manner, and is held by the ball retainer 6 in a rolling manner. The inner rail 5 is slidably engaged with the intermediate rail 3 in the longitudinal direction via the ball.

The outer rail 2 is a band-shaped metal plate body having a substantially C-shaped cross section, and is composed of a substrate 21 and bent side portions 22 and 23 in which both longitudinal edges of the substrate 21 are bent toward the inner surface of the substrate. A slide stopper 25 is formed upright at the front part of the slider 2. The base 21 is provided with a mounting hole 26 for fixing the outer rail 2 to a cabinet body, a drawer, etc., and is fixed to the cabinet body etc. with a fastener (not shown) such as a screw. The bent side portions 22 and 23 are curved toward the inner surface of the base, and the inner surface thereof has a ball rolling groove 2 extending in the axial direction of the outer rail 2.
2a23a is formed. The degree of curvature of the bent side portions 22.23 is an arc corresponding to the spherical shape of the pole 44 held by the ball retainer 4, which will be described later.

At the longitudinal center of the outer rail 2, there is an intermediate rail stopper 2 formed by curving a highly elastic thin metal plate.
4 is installed. This stopper 24 restrains and controls movement of the intermediate rail by being press-joined with the intermediate rail. The intermediate rail stopper 24 is a single strip-shaped plate spring consisting of an abutment part 24a curved in a substantially arc shape and a front and rear fastening part 24b, and is arranged so that two predetermined places on the base plate 21 of the outer rail are opposed to each other. Cut-up piece 27
It is inserted and attached between a and 27b. This intermediate rail stopper 24 has a play in the front and rear when it is attached between the cut and raised pieces 27a and 27b, and when the contact portion 24a is pressed by the slide of the intermediate rail, it moves toward the board 21 side of the outer rail. It has a structure that allows it to be pressed (see Fig. 4(f)).

The intermediate rail 3 is a board 3 whose central portion is bent into a substantially U-shape.
1 and bent side portions 32 and 33 formed by bending both longitudinal edges of the substrate 31 toward the inner surface of the substrate. In the figure, the right bent side portion 32 of the intermediate rail is curved in a substantially inverted S-shape, and the left bent side portion 33 is curved in a substantially S-shape. As a result, ball rolling grooves 321, 331, 322, 3 extending in the axial direction of the intermediate rail 3 are formed on the outer lower surface and the inner upper surface of both bent side parts 32.33, respectively.
32 is formed.

Note that the intermediate rail is not limited to the above configuration,
For example, it may have a configuration having bent side portions 92 and 93 shaped as shown in FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b). That is, the raised portion 921 is formed by raising both longitudinal edges of a band-shaped metal plate whose central portion is bent into a U-shape.
The outer surface of 931 is formed into ball rolling grooves 921a and 931a extending in the axial direction of the intermediate rail, and the tip edge of the raised portion is folded inward to form the outer surface of folded portions 922 and 932 into ball rolling grooves 921a and 931a extending in the axial direction of the intermediate rail. Moving grooves 922a, 932
This is a rail configured as a.

An inner rail stopper 7 is provided at the front end of the intermediate rail 3.
is installed. The inner rail stopper 7 is entirely molded from a flexible elastic material such as plastic, and consists of a base 71 and stopper members 72a and 72b provided on both left and right sides of the base. The elastic force with which the inner rail stopper 7 prevents the inner rail from pressing from the left and right is as follows:
This is stronger than the elastic force of the intermediate rail stopper 24 that joins the intermediate rails and prevents them from being pressed.

The base 71 is a flat plate body, and its left and right width is equal to the distance between the ball rolling grooves 322 and 332 inside the intermediate rail 2 and the time opening. The stopper members 72a and 72b have a substantially conical shape having a curved surface corresponding to the ball rolling grooves 322 and 332 on the inner surface of the intermediate rail 3 described above, and are integrally formed on both left and right edges of the base 71. Stopper members 72a, 72
Holes 73a and 73b are bored in the front part of b to increase the elasticity of the stopper member in the left-right direction.

As mentioned above, the inner rail stopper 7 is made of a flexible and elastic material, and is firmly pressed and fixed between the ball rolling grooves on the inner surface of the left and right sides of the intermediate rail, so it cannot be used with adhesive or other locking means. Even without it, it does not move back and forth and can withstand use. However, since it is possible that the inner rail stopper may slide back and forth due to intersection between the intermediate rail and the inner rail or when a large load is applied, it is also possible to provide a fixing means to prevent the inner rail stopper from moving back and forth. In this embodiment, a hole 34 for fitting the base 51 of the inner rail stopper 7 is provided on the front side of the substrate 31 of the intermediate rail. Therefore, the base 71 of the inner rail stopper 7 fits into the notch hole 34 and is prevented from moving back and forth.

In addition, as a means for preventing the inner rail stopper from moving back and forth, a protrusion may be provided on the back surface of the base 71 and a hole may be bored in the front part of the intermediate rail board 31, and these may be fitted. In this case, the protrusion installed on the back surface of the base 71 of the inner rail stopper 7 may be a rectangular protrusion, a protrusion, a protrusion, or the like. In addition, in the case of a protrusion, a protrusion, etc., the hole drilled in the intermediate rail also has a shape corresponding to the protrusion. Moreover, as a means for preventing the inner rail stopper from moving back and forth, it is also possible to provide locking projections on the surface of the intermediate rail before and after the base of the inner rail stopper.

Note that the stopper members 72a and 72b are not limited to the above-mentioned shape, but may have a generally cylindrical shape as a whole, with the rear end portions each having an oblique cutout and opposing sloped surfaces. In this case, the inclined surfaces are inclined so that the distance between the left and right inclined surfaces gradually becomes wider from the front to the rear.

Furthermore, the stopper members 72a and 72b may be wedge-shaped, approximately Y-shaped.

The inner rail 5 is a band-shaped metal plate body having a substantially U-shaped cross section, and is composed of a substrate 51 and bent side portions 52 and 53 in which both longitudinal edges of the substrate 51 are bent toward the inner surface of the substrate. A mounting hole 56 for fixing the inner rail 5 to a drawer or a cabinet body is bored in the board 51, and the inner rail 5 is fixed to the drawer or the like with a fastener (not shown) such as a screw. The bent sides 52 , 53 are curved toward the outer surface of the substrate, and the outer surfaces form ball rolling grooves 52 a, 53 a extending in the axial direction of the inner rail 5 .

The ball retainer 4 is a strip-shaped metal thin plate body set to approximately 1/2 the length of the outer rail and the intermediate rail, and is formed by raising a substrate 41 and both sides of the substrate 41 in the longitudinal direction. It is composed of a ball holding side part 42, 43 and a plurality of balls 44 rotatably held by the ball holding side part 42.

The center portion of the board 41 is bent to have a U-shaped cross section in order to avoid contact with a stopper for fixing the outer rail 2 to a cabinet body or the like. Ball holding side part 42
．． 43 is formed by standing up the left and right side portions of the substrate 41 at right angles in the longitudinal direction. The ball holding side portions 42, 43 are provided with notches 433 at regular intervals, and the notches 433 form a large number of rising pieces 431. A circular hole 432 having an inner diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the ball 44 is bored in the rising piece 431 .

A ball 44 is fitted into this hole 432 from the outside,
When the ball retainer 4 is mounted between the bent side portions of the outer rail, the balls 44 are held by the inner surfaces of the bent side portions 22, 23 of the outer rail and the rising pieces 431 so as to be able to roll freely.

The ball retainer 6 holds the balls interposed between the ball rolling grooves 322, 332 on the inner surface of the intermediate rail 3 and the ball rolling grooves 52a, 52b on the inner surface of the curved side portion 52, 53 of the inner rail 5. The structure is similar to that of the pole retainer 4 described above.

The operating state of the slide rail of the present invention constructed as described above will be explained with reference to FIG. 3.4.

When trying to pull out the inner rail 5 from the state in which the outer rail 2, intermediate rail 3, and inner rail 5 overlap (retracted &i) (Fig. 3 (a)), the inner rail attached to the front end of the intermediate rail 3 The stone puffs forcefully press and suppress the inner surface of the bent side of the inner rail from the left and right with their elasticity, and the elastic force of this inner rail stopper is stronger than the pressing force that suppresses the intermediate rail stopper from pressing the back side of the board of the intermediate rail. Therefore, the intermediate rail and the inner rail extend from the outer rail while being integrated (FIG. 3(b)). The intermediate rail 3 reaches the maximum extension state beyond the intermediate rail stop collar 24 attached to the central part of the outer rail (Fig. 3(d)).
), when the inner rail 5 is further pulled out and the pulling force exceeds the pressing restraining force of the inner stopper 7,
The inner rail separates from the intermediate rail and extends (FIG. 3(e)).

As a result, when the intermediate rail and the inner rail extend integrally, a dynamic load is applied to the ball portion interposed between the bent side of the intermediate rail and the bent side of the outer rail, causing the intermediate rail to extend. When the inner rail stops and the inner rail extends from the intermediate rail, a dynamic load is applied to the ball portion interposed between the bent side of the inner rail and the bent side of the intermediate rail.

Conversely, when the inner rail 5 is pushed in from the state where the inner rail and the intermediate rail are fully extended (FIG. 4(a)), the movement of the intermediate rail 3 is stopped by the intermediate rail stopper 24 attached to the outer rail 2. Therefore, first, the inner rail 5 retracts and slides into the intermediate rail 3 while the intermediate rail remains stationary (see Fig. 4).
b)). When the inner rail 5 slides and contacts the inner rail stopper 7 at the front end of the intermediate rail, the inner rail 5 does not easily fit into the stopper.
The force pushing the inner rail is transmitted to the intermediate rail, so the intermediate rail, which accommodates almost the entire length of the inner rail, resists the elastic force of the intermediate rail stopper attached to the outer rail and presses the intermediate rail stopper. It retracts and slides into the rail (Fig. 4(c)(d)). However, unlike FIG. 3(b), the inner rail pushes the intermediate rail without engaging the inner rail stopper provided on the intermediate rail. After the entire length of the intermediate rail with the inner rail is accommodated in the outer rail and the sliding of the intermediate rail has stopped, if further pushing force is applied, the entire length of the inner rail resists the elastic force of the inner rail stopper and the intermediate rail stops sliding. contained within.

<Effects of the Invention> The slide rail of the invention configured as described above has the following features:
It solves the conventional problems and has the following effects.

That is, when the rail is extended, the intermediate rail housing the inner rail therein first slides to the maximum extent from within the outer rail, and then the inner rail extends and slides from within the intermediate rail. Further, when the rail is retracted, the inner rail retracts and slides into the intermediate rail, and then the intermediate rail, which accommodates substantially the entire width of the inner rail, retracts and slides into the outer rail. Therefore, the balls held in the ball retainer interposed between the outer rail and the intermediate rail always remain stationary and support the weight of the drawer, inner rail, and intermediate rail, so there is a risk that the bent side of the outer rail may be deformed. There is no
This has the practical effect of being able to maintain good sliding of the rail.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 4 show one embodiment of the slide rail of the present invention. Figure 1 is an overall perspective view of the slide rail, Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view, Figures 3 (a) to (e) and 4.
Figures (a) to (e) are explanatory diagrams showing the operating state, and Figure 4 (f)
) is a sectional view of the main part AA in FIG. 4(b), and FIG. 5(a)(
b) is a perspective view and a sectional view showing an intermediate rail of another shape;
FIG. 6 is a plan view showing how the drawer extends and retracts. 1 Varnish slide rail 2: Outer rail 3: Intermediate rail 4.6: Ball retainer 5: Inner rail 7
: Inner rail stopper 24: Intermediate rail stopper

Claims (1)

[Claims] between the inner side surface of the outer rail having a substantially C-shaped cross section, the outer side surface of the intermediate rail having a substantially U-shaped cross section, and the inner surface of the side surface of the intermediate rail and the outer side surface of the inner rail having a substantially U-shaped cross section; In a multi-stage slide rail in which a plurality of balls held in a ball retainer are interposed, an intermediate rail is fitted inside an outer rail, and an inner rail is fitted inside the intermediate rail so as to be slidable in the longitudinal direction. An intermediate rail stopper is provided at the center of the inner surface to control the order of operation by suppressing pressure on the intermediate rail, and at the front end of the intermediate rail, the inner rail is suppressed from being pressed from left and right more strongly than the intermediate rail stopper to control the order of operation. A multi-stage slide rail equipped with an operation sequence mechanism characterized by the provision of an inner rail stopper.