JPH0518492Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] Industrial field of application The invention has a raceway groove formed on the longitudinal side wall surface of a linear track rail, and a raceway groove opposing the raceway groove formed on the inner surface. Lubrication of an infinite linear motion guide unit in which the track rail and the slide unit can relatively move linearly through a raceway groove of a slide unit having a casing and a rolling element that endlessly rolls between both raceway grooves. It is related to the device.

Conventional technology As a lubricating device between the endless circulation path and the rolling elements of a conventional infinite linear motion guide unit, a nipple hole to which a grease nipple is attached is provided on the side of the casing, and a return line between the nipple hole and the endless circulation path is provided. The lubricant passage communicates with the passageway to provide lubrication. With this lubrication device, if the linear motion unit becomes large, the direction change path in the endless circulation path may not be sufficiently lubricated, and if the structure is such that it is difficult to provide a nipple hole on the side of the casing, for example, This cannot be achieved if the configuration includes a return path cover.

In this case, nipple holes are provided in the side surfaces of the side plates attached to both the front and rear end surfaces in the sliding direction of the casing, and the nipple holes and the direction change path are communicated via a lubricant passage to provide lubrication.

Problems to be solved by the invention As shown in FIG.
A lubricant passage 32 communicates between the two nipple holes 31, 31, and direction change passages 33, 33 are provided from the lubricant passage 32 symmetrically on the left and right sides of the side plate 30.
lubricant short passages 34, 34 that communicate with each other.
A grease nipple is installed in one of the nipple holes 31, 31, and a plug is installed in the other, and from the position of the grease nipple to the direction change paths 33, 33 formed on the left and right sides. have different lubricant passage lengths. In FIG. 5, if a grease nipple is installed in the right nipple hole 31, the grease nipple is connected to the right direction change path 33.
The lubricant path length leading to the left direction change path 33 is shorter than the lubricant path length leading to the left direction change path 33.

Therefore, the amount of lubricant supplied to the right turning path is larger than the amount of lubricant supplied to the left turning path, and the amount of lubricant supplied to the left and right endless circulation paths becomes uneven. When an infinite linear motion guide unit is used for a long period of time, the amount of lubrication between the left and right endless circulation paths gradually becomes noticeably uneven, leading to poor lubrication in one circulation path or places with poor lubrication conditions. This had a considerable effect on the life of the linear motion guide unit, such as causing seizure of the linear motion guide unit.

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention provides a track rail in which track grooves are formed in the longitudinal direction on both sides of a rod-shaped body having a substantially rectangular cross section, and a track rail that spans the track rail and has a cross-sectional a casing having raceway grooves facing the raceway grooves of the track rail formed in the longitudinal direction on the vertical inner wall surface of the character-shaped body, and a return path being formed in the longitudinal direction; a slide unit consisting of a side plate having a switching path formed therein, and an endless circulation path in which a rolling element rolls formed on both sides by the both raceway grooves, the bidirectional switching path and the return path;
In the infinite linear motion guide unit, which includes a large number of rolling elements inserted in the endless circulation path and can cause the track rail and the slide unit to move relative to each other via the rolling elements, a side plate of the slide unit is provided with a plurality of rolling elements. A lubricant supply path is provided that penetrates the side plate approximately horizontally and opens on both outer surfaces of the side plate, and nipple holes are formed in both outer surfaces of the side plate, and the nipple holes are respectively connected to the lubricant supply path. a lubricant passage connected to the opening end, and the lubricant supply passage is formed in the horizontal direction separately from the lubricant supply passage through a short communication passage provided at the center on the symmetrical center line of the side plate; The problem mentioned above is solved by the lubricating device of the infinite linear motion guide unit, which is configured such that the lubricant passage is connected to the center of the lubricant passage, and both ends of the lubricant passage are opened to direction change passages provided symmetrically on both sides of the side plate. This solved the problem.

Function As mentioned above, the lubricant path lengths from the grease nipple installed in the nipple hole on the side of the side plate to the direction change paths formed on the left and right sides of the side plate are formed to be approximately the same length, and the lubricant path length from the grease nipple is The amount of lubricant supplied to both direction changing paths was made uniform, and the lubrication conditions in the endless circulation paths of the left and right rolling element groups were made the same.

Embodiments The configuration of the present invention will be explained below with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings.

As shown in Figure 1, the infinite linear motion guide unit is
Track rail 2, slide unit 10,
It consists of a large number of rolling elements 8,8.

The track rail 2 is made of a rod-shaped body having a substantially rectangular cross section, and raceway grooves 1, 1 are formed in the longitudinal direction on both sides thereof.

The slide unit 10 straddles the track rail 2, is capable of sliding on the track rail 2, has a substantially U-shaped cross section perpendicular to the sliding direction, and has a central casing 5, a It consists of side plates 7, 7 attached to the front and rear of the casing 5, return path covers 17 attached to both sides of the casing 5, seals 18, 18 attached to the front and rear end surfaces of the side plates 7, 7, etc.

The casing 5 has a U-shaped cross section, and has raceway grooves 3 formed in the vertical direction on its vertical inner wall surface, facing the raceway grooves 1, 1 of the track rail 2, respectively, and parallel to the raceway grooves 3. A return groove 19 is formed in the longitudinal direction near the raceway groove 3 and closer to the outer wall.

The side plates 7, 7 are attached to the front and rear of the casing 5, and as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, direction change paths 6, 6 are formed.

As shown in FIG. 1, a return path cover 17 covers the return groove 19 and is attached to the casing 5.
and a return path 4 is formed.

Both the raceway grooves 1 and 3 and the front and rear bidirectional switching paths 6,
6 and the return path 4, an endless circulation path 9 in which the rolling elements 8, 8 roll is connected to the slide unit 1.
It is formed on both sides of 0.

A large number of rolling elements 8, 8 are inserted into the endless circulation path 9. In the embodiment shown in FIG.
Although shown as cross rollers with different directions by 90 degrees, the rolling elements 8 are not limited to rollers, but may also be balls, and the rolling elements are arranged in two rows on the left and right as shown in the example. Of course, it is not limited to this, and may be of four rows.

The track rail 2 and the slide unit 10
and can be smoothly moved relative to each other via the rolling elements 8 and 8 groups.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a lubricant supply path 13 is provided that penetrates the side plate 7 approximately horizontally and opens on both outer surfaces of the side plate 7, and grease is supplied to both outer surfaces of the side plate 7. Nipple holes 12, 12 for attaching the nipple 11 are drilled, and the nipple holes 12, 1
2 are connected to the open ends of the lubricant supply passages 13, and the lubricant supply passages 13 are connected horizontally through a short communication passage 14 provided at the center on the symmetrical center line of the side plate 7. The lubricant supply path 1
The two ends 16, 16 of the lubricant passage 15 communicate with the center of the lubricant passage 15 formed separately from the lubricant passage 15.
are opened to direction change paths 6, 6, which are provided symmetrically on both sides of the side plate 7, respectively.

In the illustrated embodiment, the lubricant supply path 13, the communication path 14, and the lubricant path 15 are all connected to the side plate 7.
A lubricant passage 20 connecting the nipple hole 12 to the lubricant supply passage 13 is formed in the form of an open groove in the contact surface with the casing 5 of the side plate 7 as shown in FIG.
The lubricant supply path 1 is bent into an L-shape inside the lubricant supply path 1.
It communicates with 3.

Supply of lubricant to the direction change path 6 is performed as follows.

The lubricant supplied from the grease nipple 11 is sent through the communication lubricant passage 20 to the contact surface of the side plate 7 with the casing 5. Next, the lubricant is sent to a U-shaped lubricant supply path 13, and passes through a communication path 14 provided on a symmetrical central axis to a U-shaped lubricant supply path 13 provided directly below the lubricant supply path 13. The lubricant is sent to the lubricant passage 15 and further to the left and right direction change paths 6, 6.

The passages from the communication passage 14 to the left and right direction change passages 6, 6 are constructed symmetrically, so that the lengths of the lubricant passages are the same on the left and right sides.

Note that the shapes of the lubricant supply path 13 and the lubricant passage 15 are not limited to the U-shape, but may also be F-shape or an inverted U-shape.
It may be in the shape of a letter.

In the illustrated example, the lubricant supply path 13 is U-shaped, but in order to effectively utilize the space on the side surface of the side plate 7, the lubricant supply path 13 is
This is to make it easier to supply lubricant to the nipple 11 by lowering the position of the grease nipple 11 a certain distance from the lubricant supply path 13. Of course, the lubricant supply path 13 may be formed in a straight line with the same height.

In addition, there are nipple holes 1 on each side of the left and right sides of the side plate 7.
2 and 12 are formed symmetrically so that when installing the infinite linear motion guide unit in various machines, it is possible to supply oil from either side of the track rail 2. A filler plug is attached to the nipple hole 12 on the opposite side to the nipple hole 12 that is opened.

As shown in FIG. 4, the direction change paths 6, 6 provided on both sides of the side plate 7 are provided with a direction change path inner surface 23 for smooth direction change rolling of the rolling elements 8. A groove spacer 22 is inserted. The lubricant passage 1 is provided in a part of the contact surface 24 of the groove spacer 22 that contacts the end surface of the casing 5.
A lubricant groove 25 that communicates with the tip 16 of the lubricant 5 and opens on the inner surface 23 is formed. As shown in the figure, the lubricant groove 25 is formed in a T-shape, and can be used for either the left or right direction change path 6.

The groove spacer 22 configured as described above allows the lubricant passage 1 to be
The supply of lubricant from 5 to the direction change path 6 can be performed smoothly.

In the illustrated example, the lubricant supply passage 13, the communication passage 14, and the lubricant passage 15 of the side plate 7 are all shaped like grooves that are easy to process. Of course, each of the passages 13, 14, 15 may be formed in the shape of a groove on any of the contact surfaces between the members, and it is also possible to form each of the passages 13, 14, 15 in the form of a hole. It is.

Effects of the Invention The present invention achieves the following effects by having the above-described configuration.

a) The lubrication effect is uniform in both the left and right endless circulation paths, and the life of the entire linear motion guide unit will not be shortened due to poor lubrication in one of the circulation paths.

b The side plates and groove spacers can be molded from synthetic resin plates, so even if there are differences in load, lubricant, etc.
It is easy to implement measures to improve the lubrication system by simply modifying the mold.

c Approximately half of the lubricant supply path connected to the grease nipple can be used as a grease pocket.

d) Improving the lubrication system of the infinite linear motion guide unit can be easily implemented using existing equipment, and there is no need to add any special processing parts.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is an overall perspective view of the embodiment partially cut away, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the side plate embodiment, Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the casing contact surface side partially cut away, and Fig. 4
The figure is a perspective view of an embodiment of the groove spacer, and FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a side plate of a conventional example. 1, 3... Raceway groove, 2... Track rail, 4
... Return path, 5 ... Casing, 6 ... Direction change path, 7 ... Side plate, 8 ... Rolling element, 9 ... Endless circulation path, 10 ... Slide unit, 12 ... Nipple hole, 13 ... Lubricant supply path, 14... communication path, 15... lubricant passage, 16... tip.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A track rail having track grooves formed in the longitudinal direction on both sides of a rod-shaped body having a substantially rectangular cross section; It consists of a casing in which raceway grooves facing the raceway grooves are formed in the longitudinal direction and a return path in the longitudinal direction, and side plates attached to the front and rear of the casing and in which direction change paths are formed. , a slide unit in which endless circulation paths in which rolling elements roll are formed on both sides by the raceway grooves, the bidirectional change path and the return path, and a large number of rolling elements inserted in the endless circulation paths. In the infinite linear motion guide unit that allows the track rail and the slide unit to move relative to each other via rolling elements, the side plate of the slide unit has openings that penetrate the side plate approximately horizontally and are formed on both outer surfaces of the side plate. A lubricant supply passage is provided, and nipple holes are formed in both outer surfaces of the side plate, each of the nipple holes is connected to an open end of the lubricant supply passage, and the lubricant supply passage is connected to the lubricant supply passage at its center. The lubricant passage is horizontally connected to the center of the lubricant passage formed separately from the lubricant supply passage through a short communication passage provided on the symmetrical center line of the side plate, and both ends of the lubricant passage are connected to the lubricant passage, respectively. A lubricating device for an infinite linear motion guide unit, characterized in that the lubricating device is opened to direction change paths provided symmetrically on both sides of a side plate.