JPH074333Y2 - Linear guide device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial field of application] The present invention relates to a linear guide device having a slider that freely travels on a guide rail.

[Conventional technology]

A conventional linear guide device of this type is disclosed in, for example, JP-A-60-263724.

This is a long guide rail having axial rolling element rolling grooves on both sides, and a rolling element movably supported on the guide rail and facing the rolling element rolling groove of the guide rail. A slider body in which a rolling groove is formed on the inner side surface and a rolling element return passage parallel to this is formed in the wall thickness, and a member fixed to both end surfaces of the slider body 54A. An end cap in which a half donut-shaped curved circulation path connecting the rolling groove and the rolling element return passage is formed as a recess, and the rolling element rolling groove of the guide rail and the slider body, the rolling element return passage, and the half donut. A large number of rolling elements are rotatably filled in the curved curved path.

At least one of the guide rail and the slider is composed of a base body made of metal and extending in a cylindrical shape, and a filling member filled in the hollow portion of the base body.

[Problems to be solved by the device]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, the metal base is a hollow cylinder and is formed by cutting open only one portion in the axial direction, and the base is filled with a filling member such as epoxy concrete. A guide rail and a slider are formed.

To realize a linear guide device that allows a greatly curved curved movement because the rigidity is too high with a guide rail or slider having a structure that encloses substantially the entire outer circumference with such a metal hollow cylindrical outer cover. There was a problem that it could not be done.

Therefore, the present invention has an object of solving the above-mentioned conventional problems by providing a linear guide device having reduced rigidity against lateral bending.

[Means for Solving the Problems]

To achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention is to extend a guide rail having axial rolling element rolling grooves on both sides,
A slider body which is movably fitted on the guide rail and has a rolling element rolling groove facing the rolling element rolling groove of the guide rail on the inner side surface and a rolling element return passage parallel to the rolling element rolling groove in the wall thickness. An end cap joined to the end of the slider body having a rolling element circulation path curved in a semi-circular shape that connects the rolling element return passage and the rolling element rolling groove, and the opposing rolling elements. In a linear guide device provided with a rolling groove, a rolling element return passage, and a large number of rolling elements that are fitted in the rolling element circulation path and arranged to be freely rollable, the guide rails are provided independently on each side. The guide rail is composed of an outer plate made of a metal plate having rolling element rolling grooves formed on its side surface, and an elastic filling member filled between the outer plates. ing.

A second aspect of the present invention is to extend a guide rail having axial rolling element rolling grooves on both side surfaces, and a guide rail that is movably fitted on the guide rail and is rolling element of the guide rail. A slider body having a rolling element rolling groove facing the moving groove on the inner side surface and having a rolling element returning passage parallel to the inside in a wall thickness, and a semicircle for connecting the rolling element returning passage and the rolling element rolling groove. An end cap joined to the end of the slider body having a rolling element circulation path curved in an arc shape, and fitted into the opposing rolling element rolling groove, rolling element return passage and rolling element circulation passage. In a linear guide device including a large number of rotatably arranged rolling elements, the slider body is integrally formed with a rolling element rolling groove on an inner surface of the slider body and a retainer for holding the rolling element in the groove. An inner plate made of a metal plate and an elastic filling member closely attached to the outer periphery of the inner plate The retainer is composed of a portion in which an end portion of the inner plate along the rolling element rolling groove is folded back inward, and an axially long window opened in the folded portion.

A third aspect of the present invention is to extend a guide rail having axial rolling element rolling grooves on both side surfaces, and a guide rail which is movably fitted on the guide rail and is rolling element of the guide rail. A slider body having a rolling element rolling groove facing the moving groove on the inner side surface and having a rolling element returning passage parallel to the inside in a wall thickness, and a semicircle for connecting the rolling element returning passage and the rolling element rolling groove. An end cap joined to the end of the slider body having a rolling element circulation path curved in an arc shape, and fitted into the opposing rolling element rolling groove, rolling element return passage and rolling element circulation passage. In a linear guide device provided with a large number of rotatably arranged rolling elements, the guide rail is formed with a rolling element rolling groove, and can be freely curved laterally, and independently on each side. The outer plate made of a metal plate is provided, and is filled between the outer plates. An inner plate made of a metal plate integrally formed with a rolling element rolling groove on an inner surface of the slider body and a retainer for holding the rolling element in the groove.
The elastic filling member is closely attached to the outer periphery of the inner plate.

[Action]

At least one of the guide rail and the slider is made of a metal plate only on the side surface having the rolling element rolling groove, and the other portions are formed of an elastic filling member having relatively high elasticity,
Low rigidity against lateral bending.

As a result, it is possible to realize a linear guide device that can move along a curved curved guide rail.

〔Example〕

 Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

1 to 6 show an embodiment of the present invention. On the guide rail 1, a slider 2 having a substantially U-shaped cross section is movably mounted so as to be relatively movable. The guide rail 1 is provided on both side surfaces thereof with a single ball rolling groove 3 which is long in the axial direction and has an arcuate transverse cross section. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, it is largely curved laterally with a predetermined radius of curvature R. That is, the guide rail 1 has its side surface.
1b is formed by outer plates 4 and 4 made of two thin steel plates. Each outer plate 4 is formed with a ball rolling groove 3 on the outer surface of which the ball B, which is a rolling element, rolls, and the upper and lower end portions 4a are bent inward to have a substantially U-shaped cross section. . These two outer plates 4 are independently arranged on each side. An elastic filling member 5 made of hard rubber having high elasticity (or synthetic resin having high elasticity) is provided between the two.
Is vulcanized and bonded (or molded) as the core material. As a result, the bending rigidity of the outer plate 4 to the left and right is greatly reduced as compared with that of the conventional hollow prismatic body. or,
The filling member 5 has elasticity so that it can be easily bent. for that reason,
The guide rail 1 can be easily curved laterally.
Reference numeral 6 denotes a mounting bolt insertion hole that penetrates from the upper surface 1a to the lower surface 1c of the guide rail 1, and the collar 6A is inserted therein.

The slider 2 includes a slider body 2A and end caps 2B joined to both ends in the axial direction of the slider body 2A. The slider body 2A of the slider 2 has an inner surface formed by an inner plate 7 made of a pair of opposed thin steel plates. The inner plate 7 is made to face the ball rolling groove 3 of the guide rail 1,
A single ball rolling groove 8 having an arcuate cross section which is long in the axial direction is provided.

Furthermore, the end portion of the inner plate 7 along the ball rolling groove 8 (in FIG. 3, the lower portion of the ball rolling groove 8) is folded back 180 degrees inside the inner plate 7 to form a ball cage 9. Are integrally formed. The axial length of the ball cage 9 formed by folding back is longer than the length of the ball rolling groove 8 of the slider body 2A, and both ends of the ball rolling groove 8 (that is, the slider body 2A).
2A) (both ends). A window 10 formed of an elongated hole is provided in the folded-back portion of the inner plate 7 over substantially the entire axial length. The width of this window 10 is made slightly smaller than the diameter of the ball B so that a part of the ball B is exposed.

The upper side of the left and right ball rolling grooves 8 of the inner plate 7 is connected at the middle portion by extending in the width direction. Thus, the inner plate 7
Has an H-shaped planar shape. On the outer periphery of the inner plate 7, an elastic U-shaped elastic filling member 11 made of hard rubber (or synthetic resin having high elasticity) having high elasticity is vulcanized and bonded (or molded) as a body of the slider body 2A. Molding)
Has been done.

A ball rolling path 15 is formed by both opposing grooves of the ball rolling groove 8 formed on the inner surface side of both sleeves 14 of the slider body 2A and the ball rolling groove 3 of the guide rail 1 facing the ball rolling groove 8. ing. A ball return passage 16 having a circular cross section is formed in the wall thickness of both sleeve portions 14 of the slider body 2A so as to extend axially in parallel with the ball rolling passage 15.

On the other hand, the end caps 2B joined to the front and rear ends of the slider body 2A are injection molded products of synthetic resin material. The cross section thereof is substantially U-shaped like the slider body 2A. Ball sleeves 19 are formed in the sleeves 17 on the side of the end surface 18 that comes into contact with the end surface of the slider body 2A. The ball circulation path 19 connects the ball rolling path 15 and the ball return path 16 (see FIGS. 5 and 6).

A semi-cylindrical concave groove 20 is formed in each of the sleeve portions 17 of the end cap 2B so as to traverse the concave portion curved in the semi-circular shape, and a semi-cylindrical convex return guide 21 is formed in the concave groove 20. It is fitted. By fitting the return guide 21 into the groove 20, the ball circulation path 19 is formed in a substantially half donut shape in horizontal cross section. In this respect, the structure is simpler than that of the conventional ball circulation path formed by molding a semi-doughnut-shaped pipe with a synthetic resin.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 22 denotes an oil supply groove which communicates with the concave groove 20 and is formed on the side of the end surface 18 that comes into contact with the end surface of the slider body 2A. The lubrication groove 22 is a mounting hole for the lubrication nipple 23.
It communicates with 24. 25 is the mounting screw for mounting the end cap 2B to the slider body 2A, and 26 is the mounting screw.
25 insertion holes.

Further, in the ball circulation path 19 of the end cap 2B, the end portion of the ball retainer 9 is in contact with the portion that guides the outside of the ball B, that is, the inner end portion of the outer peripheral side guide surface 27.

In FIG. 1, 28 is a bush in which a screw hole for mounting a mechanical table is formed in the slider 2. Also, 30
Is a wiper seal attached to the end cap 2B in order to wipe off the ball rolling groove 3 of the guide rail 1 and prevent foreign matter from entering.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.

The guide rail 1 is curvedly attached to the base with bolts inserted in the bolt insertion holes 6. The slider 2 is attached to the machine table with a bolt screwed into the attachment screw hole 28.

A slider 2 on an arbitrarily curved guide rail 1 can be moved along with the machine table along the guide rail 1. The ball B inserted in the ball rolling path 15 moves while rolling in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the slider 2 with respect to the slider 2 as the slider 2 moves. Then, at the end of the slider 2, a U-turn is made along the ball circulation path 19 provided in the end cap 2B.

Then, the ball returns through the ball return passage 16 of the slider body 2A and is made a U-turn again by the ball circulation passage 19 of the end cap 2B on the opposite side to return to the ball rolling passage 15 to repeat the circulation while continuing the rolling.

According to this embodiment, since the lateral bending rigidity of the guide rail 1 is low, a large amount of bending can be taken.

Further, even if the vibration or shock of the machine is transmitted through the machine table attached to the slider 2, the elastic filling members 11 and 5 made of hard rubber or the like which compose the body of the slider 2 and the core of the guide rail 1 are absorbed. Then effectively damped.

Further, since the metal inner plate 7 and the ball retainer 9 are integrally molded, the ball B in the ball rolling groove 8 falls off even if the slider 2 is not attached to the guide rail 1. Guide rail 1 and slider 2
Is easy to assemble. That is, if the ball retainer is separate from the slider as in the prior art, during assembly, the slider is used as a guide rail while simultaneously applying the ball retainer to the balls in both rolling element rolling grooves. As it is assembled, the assembly work is troublesome.

Moreover, in this embodiment, since the ball cage 9 is formed by folding back the end portion of the inner plate 7, the manufacturing cost can be reduced as compared with the conventional case.

When manufacturing the guide rail 1, manufacture it straight.
This can be used by arbitrarily bending it at the time of use, or after bending at the time of molding, the curved ball rolling groove can be NC-polished and shaped, which is low cost.

In the above embodiment, the ball row is described as a single row, but it can be applied to a double row of two or more rows.

Further, although the rolling element is described using a ball, the rolling element is not limited to this, and a roller may be used.

In the case of the above embodiment, the guide rail 1 and the slider 2 each have a side plate made of a thin metal plate and an elastic filling member in close contact with the side plate. It is also possible to configure only one of the above.

[Effect of device]

As described above, according to the present invention, both the guide rail and the slider, or either one of the guide rail and the slider, is composed of a side plate made of a thin metal plate and an elastic filling member closely attached thereto. As a result, the rigidity against lateral bending is reduced, and as a result, it is possible to provide the effect that it is possible to provide a linear guide device that is capable of curved movement along a guide rail that is largely curved laterally. In particular, according to the second aspect of the invention, in addition to the above effects, there is an effect that the work of assembling the guide rail and the slider is easy and the manufacturing cost is low.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 to 6 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an essential part, FIG. 2 is a plan view of a guide rail, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. , FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of main parts,
5 is a half sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 1, and FIG. 6 is a rear view of the end cap. 1 is a guide rail, 2 is a slider, 2A is a slider body 2A,
2B is an end cap, B is a ball (rolling element), 3 and 8 are ball rolling grooves, 4 is an outer plate, 5 and 11 are elastic filling members, 7 is an inner plate, 9 is a ball retainer, and 15 is a ball rolling member. Movement path, 16 is a ball return path, and 19 is a ball circulation path.

Claims (3)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A guide rail extending on both sides with axial rolling element rolling grooves, and a guide rail movably fitted on the guide rail and facing the rolling element rolling grooves of the guide rail. A slider body having a rolling element rolling groove on the inner side surface and a rolling element returning passage parallel to the inner surface and having a thickness within a wall thickness, and a semi-arcuate shape that connects the rolling element returning passage and the rolling element rolling groove. An end cap that has a rolling element circulation path and is joined to the end of the slider body, and is fitted in both of the opposing rolling element rolling grooves, rolling element return passages, and rolling element circulation passages so that it can roll freely. In the linear guide device having a large number of rolling elements, the guide rails are provided independently on one side and are formed of a metal plate having rolling element rolling grooves formed on the outer surface thereof, and the outer plates are connected to each other. The guide rail is composed of an elastic filling member filled between A linear guide device characterized in that it can be freely curved laterally. 2. A guide rail extending on both sides with axial rolling element rolling grooves, and a guide rail movably fitted on the guide rail and facing the rolling element rolling grooves of the guide rail. A slider body having a rolling element rolling groove on the inner side surface and a rolling element returning passage parallel to the inner surface and having a thickness within a wall thickness, and a semi-arcuate shape that connects the rolling element returning passage and the rolling element rolling groove. An end cap that has a rolling element circulation path and is joined to the end of the slider body, and is fitted in both of the opposing rolling element rolling grooves, rolling element return passages, and rolling element circulation passages so that it can roll freely. In the linear guide device including a large number of rolling elements, the slider body is made of a metal plate integrally formed with a rolling element rolling groove on an inner surface of the slider body and a retainer for holding the rolling element in the groove. It consists of an inner plate and an elastic filling member that is in close contact with the outer periphery of the inner plate. The cage is composed of a portion in which an end portion of the inner plate along the rolling element rolling groove is folded back inward, and an axially long window opened in the folded portion. And linear guide device. 3. A guide rail extending on both sides with axial rolling element rolling grooves, and a guide rail movably fitted on the guide rail and facing the rolling element rolling grooves of the guide rail. A slider body having a rolling element rolling groove on the inner side surface and a rolling element returning passage parallel to the inner surface and having a thickness within a wall thickness, and a semi-arcuate shape that connects the rolling element returning passage and the rolling element rolling groove. An end cap that has a rolling element circulation path and is joined to the end of the slider body, and is fitted in both of the opposing rolling element rolling grooves, rolling element return passages, and rolling element circulation passages so that it can roll freely. In the linear guide device provided with a large number of rolling elements, the guide rail is formed with rolling element rolling grooves and is capable of freely bending sideways, and is independently provided on each side. The outer plate composed of plates and the elasticity filled between the outer plates An inner plate made of a metal plate integrally formed with a rolling member rolling groove on the inner surface of the slider body and a retainer for holding the rolling member in the groove.
A linear guide device comprising an elastic filling member that is in close contact with the outer periphery of the inner plate.