JPH064096Y2 - Cage for rolling elements - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial application] The present invention relates to a cage for rolling elements to be continuously accommodated in a guide body in a linear guide device or the like that slides on a track.

[Problems to be Solved by Conventional Techniques and Inventions] Conventionally, as a rolling element retainer in a linear guide device of this type, etc., a practical application proposed by the applicant of the present application is Sho 61-1653.
No. 68 (Jitsukai Sho 63-69816). As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, this retainer rotatably encloses the rolling element 21 in the accommodating hole 23 with the upper and lower contact surfaces 21a and 21b thereof exposed, and as apparent from the figures. The structure is most suitable for insert molding in which the rolling element 21 is set in the mold in advance and injection molding is performed. The rolling elements 21 are continuously accommodated in the circulation path of the guide body via the cage 22, and the rolling elements 21 interposed between the rolling elements 21 are retained by the cage 22 as the guide body moves on the raceway surface. It is configured to circulate along a circulation path while rotating inside.

However, the retainer 22 of this kind of construction has a drawback that it takes time to set the rolling element 21 in the mold at the time of molding and is difficult to mass produce. Further, in actual use, there is no problem that the storage means for the lubricant such as grease to be supplied is not provided between the rolling element 21 and the retainer holding surface, which hinders the rotation of the rolling element.

In view of such circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a rolling element retainer which is excellent in mass productivity and can always ensure smooth rotation of the rolling element.

[Means and Actions for Solving Problems]

The rolling element cage according to the present invention has recesses at the upper and lower edges of the receiving hole into which the rolling element is fitted. Therefore,
Lubricants such as grease can be stored in the recesses, so that the rotation of the rolling elements causes them to be supplied to the rolling elements.
This allows the rolling elements to rotate smoothly. Moreover, this recess for facilitating the fitting of the rolling element into the cage after molding,
Since it is provided separately at the upper and lower opening edge portions of the accommodation hole and provided so that the upper and lower sides have an alternating positional relationship with each other, it is convenient in, for example, the design of a mold for injection molding. It is possible to prevent “mold take” and as a result,
The molding time can be shortened.

〔Example〕

A first embodiment of the rolling element cage according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. In the figure, 1 is a rolling element made of a metallic sphere, 2 is a cage main body made of synthetic resin that rotatably supports the rolling element 1, and 3 is the rolling element 1 fitted through any of the upper and lower openings 3a and 3b. The upper and lower contact surfaces 1 of the rolling element 1
The accommodating holes 4a and 1b are held so as to be exposed, 4 is the wrapping surface formed by the peripheral surface of the accommodating hole 3, and 5 and 6 are the openings 3
The upper and lower recesses are formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the respective edges of a and 3b. The upper concave portion 5 and the lower concave portion 6 are arranged so as to be alternately positioned as clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Reference numeral 7 is a lubricant such as grease stored in the recesses 5 and 6.

Next, a mold for molding the cage 2 will be described. In FIGS. 4 and 5, 8 is an upper mold 10 to be described later.
A lower die having a recessed portion 8a that fits with the holder 2 to form the lower half of the retainer 2, and 9 is a molding surface 9a for forming the holding surface 4.
It is a protrusion having a molding surface 9b for forming the recess 6, and in the illustrated example, four protrusions are provided in accordance with the recess 6.
The upper mold 10 is different only in that the position of the projection 11 thereof is provided so as to intersect with the projection 9 of the lower mold 8. The molding surface 11a is the molding surface 9a and the molding surface 11b is the molding surface 9a. And each are similarly formed. In FIG. 5, 12 is a parting line, 13 is a runner, 14 is a gate, and 15 is an ejector pin.

The rolling element cage 2 according to this embodiment is easily molded by joining the lower mold 8 and the upper mold 10 (see FIG. 5) and injecting the molten resin from the runner 13. In this case, the recesses 5 and 6 are alternately formed as described above. Therefore, the projection 9 and the projection 11 for molding the recesses 5 and 6 intersect to form a molding die for the cage 2. As a result, when the two molds 8 and 10 are separated, the protrusions 9 and 11 are smoothly separated without interfering with the holding surface 4 of the cage 2, and the cage 2 is attached to the molds in an undercut state. The phenomenon of so-called "mold removal" does not occur. That is, the cage 2 which is not deformed can be taken out because insert molding and forced removal are not performed.
There is an advantage that the time for taking out the cage 2 from the mold can be shortened.

In the retainer 2 thus taken out, the rolling element 1 is inserted from either the upper opening 3a or the lower opening 3b. In this case, since the fitting edge portion of the retainer 2 is thin as a whole due to the existence of the recesses 5 and 6, the fitting is easy to be appropriately deformed and smooth fitting is performed. On the other hand, after the rolling element 1 is fitted in the accommodation hole 3, the elasticity of the retainer 2 ensures that the rolling element 1 is held. Further, in actual use, if the recesses 5 and 6 are filled with a lubricant 7 such as grease, the lubricant 7 is supplied between the rolling element 1 and the holding surface 4 as the rolling element 1 rotates, and A smooth rotation of 1 is guaranteed. Moreover, since the recesses 5 and 6 are provided at the edges of the openings 3a and 3b of the accommodation hole 3, the work of filling the lubricant 7 is easy, and moreover,
The filled lubricant 7 is securely held in the recesses 5 and 6. Further, since the recesses 5 and 6 are alternately arranged at the upper and lower edges, the lubricant 7 can be evenly and uniformly supplied to the entire outer surface of the rolling element 1, and in combination with the above-mentioned effects. The smooth operation of the rolling element 1 is ensured for a long period of time.

6 to 8 show the second embodiment. In this embodiment, the rolling element 1 is composed of rollers, and the accommodating hole 3
Recesses 5 and 6 are alternately provided at the edges of the upper and lower openings 3a and 3b. Also in this case, the molding is performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and the same advantages are obtained.

9th to 11th shows a third embodiment. This embodiment has the same structure as that of the second embodiment except that the projections 2a and 2a 'to be fitted with the circulation passage of the linear guide body are formed on both end faces of the cage 2 in this embodiment. The forming of the cage and the operation of the rolling element 1 are the same as in the first embodiment.

The shapes and numbers of the recesses 5 and 6 in each of the above embodiments are not limited to those shown in the drawings, and various changes can be made if necessary.

[Effect of device]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is an advantage that molding time can be shortened and mass production can be achieved, and molding accuracy is improved.
Further, there is an advantage in practical use that the smooth operation of the rolling elements is guaranteed.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 to 5 show a first embodiment of a rolling element cage according to the present invention, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cage accommodating spherical rolling elements, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of the cage. Figure 3 is II of Figure 2.
A cross-sectional view taken along the line I-III, FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of a lower mold for molding the cage, and FIG. FIGS. 6 to 8 show a second embodiment, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a cage containing roller-like rolling elements, and FIG. 7 is a plan view of the cage shown in FIG.
FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 7, FIGS. 9 to 11 show a third embodiment, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a cage accommodating roller-like rolling elements, and FIG. FIG. 9 is a plan view of the cage, FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line XI-XI of FIG. 10, and FIGS. 12 and 13 are a perspective view and a side sectional view of a conventional cage. 1 ... Rolling element, 2 ... Cage, 3 ... Accommodating hole, 3a, 3
b ... opening, 4 ... wrapping surface, 5,6 ... recess, 7 ... lubricant, 8 ... lower mold, 10 ... upper mold.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A rolling element retainer in which a rolling element to be continuously disposed in a circulation path of a guide body is rotatably wrapped with its upper and lower contact surfaces exposed. A housing hole into which the moving body is to be press-fitted, and a holding surface which is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the housing hole and holds the rolling body so as to be rollable,
Formed separately on the upper and lower opening edges of the accommodation hole,
A cage for rolling elements, comprising: recesses formed at positions where upper and lower parts are alternately arranged.