JPH1068417A - Rolling guide device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent detachment of a roller when a guide rail is detached from a movable block by holding a large number of rollers in a large number of roller holding holes provided in a retainer, and providing a retainer holder to hold the retainer along a load roller rolling groove of the movable block. SOLUTION: A roller guide device 1 supports a movable block 2 by a guide rail 4 through a large number of balls 3, the movable block 2 is provided with a pair of leg parts 5, 5 and a horizontal part 6, and a ball circulation passage to guide a large number of balls 3 in a lubricating manner is provided. The balls 3 are held in a retainer 50 in which a large number of ball holding holes 50a are provided with the prescribed intervals, and assembled in a ball circulation passage 7, and the retainer 50 is held straight in a movably manner along a load ball rolling passage 8 by retainer holders 55-58. Detachment of the balls 3 can be prevented by the retainer 50 when the balls are detached from the movable block 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rolling contact type guide device for guiding a straight road or the like, and more particularly to a rolling guide device for holding a rolling element by a flexible band-shaped member.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional rolling guide device of this type, generally, a moving block is movably supported along a guide rail via a number of rolling elements, and the rolling elements are circulated through the moving block. A rolling element circulation path for guiding is provided. Then, the rolling element circulating path is formed by a load rolling element rolling path between load rolling element rolling grooves formed on the opposing surface of the moving block and the guide rail, and a rolling element from one end of the load rolling element rolling path to the other end side. And a return passage in a no-load region for returning the pressure.

[0003]

In such a rolling guide device, it has been studied to incorporate a rolling element into a moving block while holding the rolling element in a retainer constituted by a flexible band-shaped member.

When a retainer is incorporated, it is necessary to prevent the retainer from swaying while moving, and also to prevent the rolling elements from falling off when the guide rail is removed from the moving block.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to meet the above-mentioned demands, and has as its object to hold a retainer,
Another object of the present invention is to provide a rolling guide device capable of preventing a rolling element from falling off.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a moving block is supported movably along a guide rail via a number of rolling elements, and the moving block is mounted on the moving block. A rolling element circulating path for circulating and guiding the rolling elements is provided, and the rolling element circulating path is provided with a load rolling element rolling path in a load area between load rolling element rolling grooves formed on the opposing surface of the moving block and the guide rail. A return path of a no-load area for returning the rolling element in the load area from one end of the load rolling element rolling path to the other end side;
In the rolling guide device, the plurality of rolling elements are held in a number of rolling element holding holes provided in a retainer formed by a flexible band-shaped member, and the rolling elements are arranged along the load rolling element rolling grooves of the moving block. A retainer presser for holding the retainer is provided.

[0007] The retainer retainer also holds the rolling element.

[0008]

According to the present invention, the retainer is held between the load rolling element rolling grooves by the retainer presser, and its run-out is suppressed.

When the guide rail is detached from the moving block, the retainer is engaged with the retainer retainer, and the rolling element is prevented from falling off via the retainer.

[0010] If the rolling elements are also held by the retainer presser, the rolling elements can be reliably prevented from falling off.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 1 shows a rolling guide device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

The rolling guide device 1 includes a moving block 2
Guide rails 4 via balls 3 as a number of rolling elements
Is supported so as to be movable along.

The moving block 2 has a U-shaped cross section and includes a pair of legs 5 and 5 that sandwich the guide rail 4 and a horizontal portion 6 that rigidly connects the legs 5 and 5.

The moving block 2 is provided with a ball circulation path (rolling element circulation path) 7 for circulating and guiding a large number of balls 3. In this example, a ball circulation path 7 is formed on each of the left and right legs 5 and 5.

As shown in FIG. 1 (b), each ball circulation path 7 has a loaded ball rolling groove (load rolling element rolling groove) 8a, 8b formed on the opposing surface of the moving block 2 and the guide rail 4. A load ball rolling path 8 in a load area therebetween and a return path 9 in a no-load area for returning the ball 3 from one end to the other end of the load ball rolling path (load rolling element rolling path) 8.

The return path 9 in the no-load region includes a ball relief hole 10 extending in parallel with the loaded ball rolling path 8, and a direction change path 11 connecting both ends of the ball relief hole 10 to both ends of the loaded ball rolling path 8. , Is composed of. Turning path 11
The end surface covering portion 16 integrally joined to the end surface of the high rigidity block main body 13 in which the load ball rolling groove 8a is formed.
And a side cover 14 as an outer peripheral component.

The ball 3 is held in an endless retainer 50 and incorporated in the ball circulation path 7. As shown in FIG. 1C, the retainer 50 is a flexible band-shaped member formed of resin or the like, and has a large number of ball holding holes (rolling member holding holes).
50a are provided at predetermined intervals. The ball 3 is rotatably and slidably held on the inner periphery of each ball holding hole 50a.
Both ends are connected endlessly to guide the ball 3 over the entire circumference of the ball circulation path 7. However, as shown by the one-dot chain line in FIG. Between the ball holding holes 50a, spacers 50b each having a spherical crown-shaped concave portion shaped like the outer peripheral shape of the ball 3 are interposed so as to sandwich the ball 3 from both sides in the axial direction.

The functions of the retainer 50 include a function of preventing interference between the balls 3, a function of preventing the balls 3 from falling off, a function of aligning the balls 3, and a function of holding grease for lubrication. It has.

Since the retainer 50 swings while moving, retainer pressers 55 to 58 are provided to hold the retainer 50 linearly along the loaded ball rolling path 8 to suppress the swing. The ball escape hole 10 has a retainer 50.
Are provided with guide grooves 59 for guiding both side edges. Of course, the direction changing path 11 is also provided with a guide groove (not shown).

The retainer retainers 55 to 58 include the retainer 5
0 is the load ball rolling groove 8a of the block body 13.
A jaw is provided so as to press against the side edge of the groove. The minimum width between the jaws is larger than the diameter of the ball 3. When the guide rail 4 is removed from the moving block 2, the ball 3 is held from the front and rear by the spacer 50 b of the retainer 50, and the ball 3 is The falling off is prevented through the retainer 50 engaged with the retainer retainers 55 to 58.

The contact angle of the ball 3 is such that the contact angle line S1 of the ball 3 on the left side is
The contact angle line S2 of the ball 3 on the right side is inclined upward by a predetermined angle toward the center side of the guide rail 4 with respect to the horizontal line H, and is substantially inclined from each other. It is parallel. Here, the contact angle line is a line connecting the contact portions of the balls 3 in each row with the ball rolling grooves 8a and 8b on the moving block 2 side and the guide rail 4 side. Because the contact angle structure may cause a portion where the thickness of the retainer retainers 55 to 58 cannot be sufficiently obtained, it is preferable to appropriately embed a reinforcing material 60 such as a metal plate in a thin portion. In the illustrated example, a reinforcing material 60 such as a thin metal plate is embedded in the thin upper right retainer retainer 56 and the lower left retainer retainer 57.

In this embodiment, the ball relief hole forming portion 15
And the end face covering portion 16 and the retainer retainers 55 to 58,
High rigid block body 13 as resin molded body 12
And are integrally formed. That is, the ball relief hole forming portion 15 is integrally joined to a substantially rectangular notch 18 formed on the left and right side surfaces of the metal block body 13, and both ends thereof are integrally joined to the end surface of the block body 13. It is connected integrally with the covering part 16.

As described above, the ball relief hole forming portion 15
Since the end surface covering portion 16 and the retainer retainers 55 to 58 are configured to surround the periphery of the block body 13, the retainer retainers 55 to 5-5 are formed by contraction of the resin during molding.
8 and the ball relief hole forming portion 15 are subjected to tensile stress, and the straightness thereof becomes highly accurate. In particular, since tensile stress is applied to the thin retainer retainers 55 to 58, the ball 3 does not come into contact with each of the retainer retainers 55 to 58, and smooth circulation and transfer of the ball 3 can be secured.

An upper surface covering portion 51 for covering the upper surface of the block body 13 and a central recess 13a of the block body 13 are provided.
An inner peripheral covering portion 54 that covers the inner peripheral upper surface is provided, and the upper surface covering portion 51 and the inner peripheral covering portion 54 are integrally formed via the end surface covering portions 16 at the front and rear end surfaces of the block main body 13 to reinforce the block main body 13. In addition, reinforcement of a resin portion integrally molded is achieved. The inner peripheral covering portion 54 is formed integrally with an upper left retainer retainer 55 and an upper right retainer retainer 56. Further, a lower surface covering portion 61 that covers the lower surfaces of the left and right leg portions 5 and 5 of the block body 13 is also provided integrally, and the lower surface covering portion 61 and the left and lower right retainer pressers 57 and 58 are integrally formed. .

The upper surface of the block body 13 has a lower surface 52
And a higher surface portion 53 which is one step higher than the lower surface portion 52. The upper surface portion 53 is provided with a fixing bolt hole 53a and serves as a fastening seat surface.
Numeral 1 is covered by the lower surface portion 52, the height of the upper surface covering portion 51 is set to the same height as the higher surface portion 53, and the block main body 13 is configured to be flat. In this embodiment, the high surface portion 53 is provided at two locations corresponding to the left and right legs 5 and 5 of the block body 13, and the low surface portion 52 is provided at two high surface portions 53.
Are formed at three places, that is, an intermediate portion and right and left ends.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the rolling guide device using the retainer 50.

In the following description, differences from the above embodiment will be described, and the same components as those in the above embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

In this embodiment, the height of the left and right balls 3 is made different, and one ball 3 is arranged at the right edge of the upper surface of the guide rail 4 and the other ball 3 is arranged at an intermediate position on the left side of the guide rail 4. Things. The moving block body 13 has a leg 5 formed into a substantially L-shaped cross section with only one side. One ball relief hole 10 is provided on the right side of the upper surface of the horizontal portion 6, and the other ball relief hole 10 is provided with the leg 5. Formed on the side. That is,
A cutout portion 62 is provided on the right side edge of the upper surface of the horizontal portion 6 of the block body 13, and the ball relief hole forming portion 15 formed of resin is integrally joined to the cutout portion 62, while the leg portion 5 has The ball relief hole forming portion 15 is integrally joined to the cutout portion 63 formed at the corner of the lower surface and the left side surface.

The left side cover 64 of the leg 5 and the leg 5
The retainer presser 55 at the upper left of the inner circumference is covered
And are integrally formed around the leg 5. The inner edge of the lower surface covering portion 61 on the lower surface of the leg 5 is integrally joined to a retainer presser 57 on the lower edge of the left ball 3. On the other hand, the ball relief hole forming portion 15 of the horizontal portion 6 and the lower surface covering portion 65 of the horizontal portion 6 are integrally joined so as to vertically surround the horizontal portion 6 via front and rear end face covering portions 16. Further, the lower surface covering portion 65 and the ball escape hole forming portion 15 are integrally formed via the right side surface covering portion 66 of the block body 13, and the inner edge of the lower surface covering portion 65 has a retainer presser for the upper right ball 3. 58. The two retainers 50, 50 are held and guided by the retainer retainers 55, 57; 56, 58. The minimum width of each retainer retainer 55, 57; 56, 58 is smaller than the outer diameter of the ball 3, and It is also made to hold. If the ball 3 is also held in this manner, it is possible to reliably prevent the ball 3 from falling off. Further, the retainer 50 itself only has a function of preventing interference between the balls 3, and does not need a ball holding function.

Further, with respect to the block body 13, only a necessary portion serving as a positioning reference surface is exposed, and a portion which does not particularly require precision is cast with resin.
The number of processing locations such as cutting of the block body 13 can be reduced, and cost can be reduced.

Although the linear motion guide device has been described in the above embodiment, it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to a curved motion guide device. Further, the molded body may be formed of a die-cast molded product, a sintered metal, or the like in addition to the resin.

[0033]

The present invention has the above-described structure and operation. By using a retainer for holding a rolling element and providing a retainer retainer for holding the retainer along a load rolling element rolling groove of a moving block. , The retainer is held by the retainer retainer, and its swing is suppressed.

When the guide rail is detached from the moving block, the retainer is engaged with the retainer retainer, and the rolling element is prevented from falling off via the retainer.

Further, if the retainer retainer also holds the rolling element, it is possible to prevent the rolling element from falling off even when only the rolling element without using the retainer is mounted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1A and 1B show a rolling guide device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1A is a longitudinal sectional view, FIG. 1B is a partially cutaway plan view, and FIG. Is a partial side view of the retainer.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show a rolling guide device according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2A is a longitudinal sectional view, FIG. 2B is a plan view, and FIG. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 rolling guide device 2 moving block 3 ball (rolling element) 4 guide rail 5 leg 6 horizontal section 7 ball circulation path (rolling element circulation path) 8 load ball rolling path (load rolling element rolling path) 9 return path 10 ball escape Hole 11 Direction changing path 12 Molded body 13 Block body 14 Side cover 15 Ball relief hole forming part 16 End face covering part 50 Retainer 55 to 58 Retainer presser

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A moving block is movably supported along a guide rail via a plurality of rolling elements, and a rolling element circulating path for circulating and guiding the rolling elements is provided on the moving block. A load rolling element rolling path in a load area between load rolling element rolling grooves formed on the opposing surface of the moving block and the guide rail; and a rolling element in the load area being moved from one end to the other end of the load rolling element rolling path. And a return path in a no-load region for returning to the rolling block. The moving block, wherein the plurality of rolling elements are held in a number of rolling element holding holes provided in a retainer formed of a flexible band member, and the moving block A retainer presser for holding the retainer along the load rolling element rolling groove. 2. The rolling guide device according to claim 1, wherein the retainer retainer also holds the rolling element.