JPH112241A - Belt with rolling body - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a belt with a rolling body to prevent the two ends of the belt with a rolling body, incorporated in the ball infinite circulation passage of a bearing device, from rubbing against the inner wall of the infinite circulation passage and causes circulation in the infinite circulation passage to smooth as much as possible. SOLUTION: A belt 1 with a rolling body, used in a state to be incorporated in a ball infinite circulation passage 9, comprises a number of balls 3 and a coupling belt to arrange the balls 3 in one row at intervals of a given distance and rotatably held and interlink the adjoining balls. A pair of recessed tip surfaces 7 and 7 positioned facing each other through a single ball for cushioning in the ball infinite circulation passage 9 are formed at the two end parts in a longitudinal direction of a coupling body belt 2. The ball 8 for cushioning is nipped between the recessed tip surfaces 7 and 7 under circulation in the ball infinite circulation passage 9.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an infinite number of rolling elements arranged in a line and rotatably held therein. For example, the rolling elements are incorporated in an infinite circulation path of a rolling element of a linear guide device for infinite sliding or a ball screw device. The present invention relates to a belt with a rolling element used for the following.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a linear guide device for guiding a movable body such as a table along a fixed portion such as a bed, a track rail having ball rolling grooves and a load rolling opposed to the ball rolling grooves are known. A slider having a groove and a no-load rolling path for circulating a ball from one end of the load rolling groove to the other end thereof, and a slider moving along the track rail; and applying a load between the slider and the track rail. It is known that the ball is rolled while being loaded, and is composed of a number of balls circulating in an infinite circulation path composed of a loaded rolling groove of the slider and an unloaded rolling path.

In the conventional linear guide device configured as described above, since the infinite circulation path of the slider is filled with the balls, when the slider moves along the track rail, adjacent balls collide with each other. Alternatively, the balls circulate in the endless circulation path while rubbing each other, and there is a problem that the balls are worn out early and the life of the device is shortened.

On the other hand, focusing on the rolling state of each ball in the infinite circulation path, the ball rolls while applying a load between the loaded rolling groove of the slider and the ball rolling groove of the track rail. On the other hand, when the vehicle escapes between these two grooves, the load is released, and the circulation is repeated in the infinite circulation path while repeating this. For this reason, such a ball is located between the load rolling groove and the ball rolling groove (hereinafter referred to as a load area).
Is slightly crushed by the load when entering the ball, so that when the ball rolling in the no-load rolling path enters the load area, a large resistance acts on the ball, and the ball After a temporary stop just before the load area, the vehicle rolls into the load area. Therefore, in the above-described linear guide device, there is a problem that the sliding resistance of the slider changes every time each ball enters the load area, and the smooth movement of the slider is hindered. Such a phenomenon is particularly remarkable when a preload is applied to the ball for the purpose of preventing the occurrence of a bearing gap.

To solve such a problem, there has been proposed a linear guide device in which a ball chain in which a large number of balls are aligned and held is incorporated in the above-mentioned infinite circulation path (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-52217). . FIG. 15 and FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, such a ball chain 100 includes a large number of balls 101, and a linked body belt 102 in which these balls 101 are arranged in a line at a predetermined interval, and are rotatably and held in a rosary shape. Connecting body belt 102
Is constituted by connecting a plurality of spacers 103 interposed between the balls 101 by a pair of band portions 104 along the arrangement direction of the balls. The connecting body belt 102 is manufactured by injection molding of a flexible resin in which the balls 101 are arranged as cores in a mold, and is taken out of the mold in a state where the balls 101 are arranged in a rosary.

The conventional ball chain 100 constructed as described above is incorporated in the endless circulation path 106 of the slider 105 and circulates in the endless circulation path as shown in FIG. Since the spacer 103 is interposed between the balls 101, mutual friction and collision between the balls are prevented, and wear of the balls 101 can be prevented as much as possible.

When a ball chain is incorporated in an infinite circulation path, balls adjacent to each other are connected by a connecting belt, and the ball immediately before entering the load area is moved by the ball that has already rolled into the load area. As a result, the ball smoothly rolled immediately before the load area, and the smooth movement of the slider could be secured.

[0008]

However, this conventional ball chain is formed in a substantially straight line as shown in FIG. 15, and is used by being incorporated in an infinite circulation path and being bent in an annular shape. In the infinite circulation path, both ends of the ball chain, which is about to expand in an original straight line, rub against the inner wall of the infinite circulation path, and there is a problem that unnecessary resistance acts on the circulation movement. .

Further, since the conventional ball chain is not connected to both ends in the endless circulation path, when the ball chain is circulated in the endless circulation path, the ball located at the tip of the ball chain moves ahead. Since the ball must enter the load area without being pulled by the ball, when such a tip ball enters the load area, a large resistance acts on the circulation of the ball chain. There was a problem of being hindered.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to prevent both ends from rubbing against the inner wall of the infinite circulation path, thereby enabling circulation in the infinite circulation path. An object of the present invention is to provide a belt with rolling elements that can be smoothed as much as possible.

Another object of the present invention is to prevent a large resistance from acting when the tip enters the load region, thereby making it possible to smoothly circulate in the infinite circulation path. Another object of the present invention is to provide a simple belt with rolling elements.

[0012]

That is, a belt with rolling elements according to the present invention has a number of rolling elements, and these rolling elements are arranged in a line at predetermined intervals and rotatably held therein.
A belt with rolling elements, which is constituted by a connecting body belt connecting mutually adjacent rolling elements to each other, and is used by being incorporated in an infinite circulation path of the rolling elements provided in the bearing device, in order to achieve the above object. The following means are used.

First, the belt with rolling elements according to claim 1 is
The linked body belt has a pair of concave end faces opposed to each other via one buffering rolling element in the endless circulation path at both ends in the longitudinal direction thereof, and these concave end faces are circulated during circulation in the endless circulation path. A surface sandwiches the above-mentioned buffering rolling element.

According to such technical means, a pair of concave tip surfaces are formed at both ends of the connecting member belt in which a large number of rolling elements are arranged in a line, and these concave tip surfaces are formed in the bearing device. Since one buffer rolling element is opposed to each other in the infinite circulation path, both ends of the connecting member belt are circulated in the endless circulation path during circulation in the rolling element infinite circulation path. The connecting member belt is bent following the movement of the moving body, and it is possible to prevent the both end portions of the connecting member belt from rubbing against the inner wall of the endless circulation path as much as possible.

Further, the belt with rolling elements according to claim 2 is
The linked body belt has a concave front end face at one end in the longitudinal direction, and the other end has a convex front end face that matches the concave front end face, and these concave front faces during circulation in the infinite circulation path. It is characterized in that it comes into contact with the convex tip surface.

According to such a technical means, the connecting member belt in which a number of rolling elements are arranged in a row has a concave tip surface and a convex tip surface which coincide with each other at both ends thereof. Since the front end surface and the convex front end surface abut each other in the infinite circulation path of the bearing device, during the circulation in the rolling element infinite circulation path, one end of the connecting member belt follows the movement of the contacted other end. It is also possible to prevent the end portions of these linked belts from rubbing against the inner wall of the endless circulation path as much as possible.

In the belts with rolling elements according to the first and second aspects of the present invention, when the entire length of the belt with rolling elements is shorter than the entire length of the endless circulation path, the belt may be interposed between the rolling elements for cushioning or the concave end face and the convex. The belts with rolling elements can be added in the infinite circulation path by contacting the end surfaces of the rollers, and the short length of the belt with rolling elements can be used for a bearing device with a long infinite circulation path. It is possible to do.

Further, the belt with rolling elements according to claim 3 is
A pair of guide grooves are formed along the path in the endless circulation path of the bearing device, and the link belt projects in the longitudinal direction from the rolling elements located at both ends in the longitudinal direction. In addition, a guide piece is formed which is fitted into the guide groove and guides the connecting member belt in the endless circulation path.

According to such technical means, the guide pieces formed at both ends of the connecting member belt are loosely fitted in the guide grooves formed in the endless circulation path, and the guide grooves are formed in the endless circulation path. Since the link belt is formed along the path, both ends of the link belt move along the guide groove when circulating in the endless circulation path. At this time, since the guide pieces protrude further in the longitudinal direction than the rolling elements located at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the linked body belt, when the leading end of the rolling element-equipped belt enters the arc region of the infinite circulation path. First, the guide piece enters the arc region, and subsequently, the rolling element enters the arc region. Therefore, when such a guide piece advances in the circular arc region along a predetermined trajectory along the guide groove, the rolling element also rolls in the circular arc region as guided by the guide piece. This can prevent the inner wall from rubbing or being caught.

Further, from the viewpoint that the guide piece smoothly enters the arc region of the infinite circulation path, the tip of the guide piece may be slightly bent toward the inner periphery of the infinite circulation path. Preferred (claim 4).

Further, in the belt with rolling elements according to claim 5, the diameter of the rolling elements located at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the connecting belt is smaller than that of the other rolling elements.

According to such a technical means, by arranging the rolling elements having a small diameter at both ends of the connecting body belt, compared with the case where all the rolling elements have the same diameter, the inside of the infinite circulation path is reduced. The leading end of the circulating rolling element belt easily enters the load area between the slide member and the track shaft, and after the leading rolling element has rolled into the load area, the rolling elements that follow this are also connected belts. Therefore, the rolling motion of the belt with the rolling elements does not stagnate immediately before the load area, and the circulation of the belt with the rolling elements can be facilitated. . .

Further, the rolling guide device according to claim 6 is
The rolling elements located at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the connecting member belt have a smaller longitudinal elastic modulus than those of the other rolling elements.

According to such technical means, if rolling elements having a small longitudinal elastic modulus are arranged at both ends of the connecting body belt, the rolling elements have a large amount of deformation when a load is applied. The tip of the belt with rolling elements circulating in the road becomes easier to enter the load area between the slide member and the track axis, and after the rolling element at the tip rolls into the load area, the rolling elements following this also It rolls into the load area by being pulled by the connecting belt. Therefore, this claim 6
Also in the rolling guide device, the circulating motion of the rolling member-equipped belt does not stagnate immediately before the load region, and the smooth circulation of the rolling member-equipped belt can be achieved.

In the belt with rolling elements according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, as in the belt with rolling elements according to the fifth aspect, the diameter of the rolling elements located at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the connecting body belt is changed to other rolling elements. By making the moving body smaller than that of the moving body, it becomes easier for the belt with the rolling body to enter the load area, and the circulation of the belt with the rolling body in the infinite circulation path can be further smoothed.

In the present invention, the rolling elements arranged on the connecting member belt may be balls or rollers, and the rolling guide device in which the rolling member-attached belt is incorporated is also the linear guide described above. The device is not limited to the device, and may be a ball screw, a ball spline, a roller spline, or the like as long as the device has an infinite circulation path of the rolling element.

[0027]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a belt with rolling elements according to the present invention. First Embodiment FIGS. 1 and 2 show a ball-attached belt as a first embodiment of a rolling-member-attached belt according to the present invention using balls for the rolling members. The ball-attached belt 1 has a plurality of balls 3 arranged in a line at a predetermined interval on a synthetic resin connecting body belt 2, and the balls 3 can be freely rotated while being held by the connecting body belt 2. It has become.

The connecting member belt 2 is composed of a plurality of spacers 4 arranged between the balls 3 adjacent to each other and a pair of band portions 5 connecting the spacers 4 as shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 5, each spacer 4 has a disk-shaped cross section, and a contact surface 6 with the ball 3 is formed in a concave shape following the spherical surface of the ball 3.

Further, concave end surfaces 7 following the spherical surface of a ball are formed at both ends of the connecting member belt 2, respectively. The belt 1 with the ball is placed in an infinite ball circulation path of a linear guide device to be described later. When incorporated, the pair of concave tip surfaces 7 sandwich the buffer ball 8.

The ball-attached belt 1 is molded by injection molding of a synthetic resin arranged in a mold with the ball 3 as a core. After the molding is completed, the linked belt 2 is released from the mold together with the ball 3. Manufactured. In addition, if the connecting member belt 2 is simply injection-molded, the spacer 4 and the band portion 5 of the belt 2 come into close contact with the ball 3 and the connecting member belt 2
In this embodiment, since the ball 3 does not rotate freely, in this embodiment, the ball-attached belt 1 after the completion of molding is immersed in mineral oil-based lubricating oil, and waits for the swelling of the connected body belt 2 with time, and the ball 3 A gap is formed between the seat 4 and the band 5 to allow the ball 3 to rotate freely.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show an embodiment of a linear guide device in which the above-mentioned belt with a ball is incorporated. In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a track rail provided for a fixed portion such as a bed of a machine tool, reference numeral 20 denotes a slider for guiding a movable body such as a table along the track rail 10, and a ball 3 denotes a ball. These track rail 10 and slider 2
Rolling while applying a load between zero and infinite circulation in the slider 20.

First, the track rail 10 is formed in a substantially rectangular cross section, and the ball rolling surfaces 11a and 11b on which the ball 3 rolls have a total length of 4 along the longitudinal direction (the direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 5). Articles are formed. These ball rolling surfaces 11
a and 11b are formed on both sides of the track rail 10 and on both edges of the upper surface, and the ball rolling surfaces 11a on both sides are formed 30 ° downward from the left and right direction on the paper surface, while the ball rolling surfaces on the upper surface are formed. 11b is formed vertically upward.
Further, a bolt mounting hole 12 is formed in the track rail 10 at an appropriate interval in the longitudinal direction, and the track rail 1
Reference numeral 0 is fixed to a fixing portion by a fixing bolt (not shown) inserted into the bolt mounting hole 12.

On the other hand, the slider 20 has a moving block 40 having a mounting surface 41 of a movable body such as a table and a tap hole 42 into which a fixing bolt of the movable body is screwed. And a pair of lids 50, 50 fixed to each other.
Is fixed to the moving block 40 so that the slider 20
An infinite circulation path for the ball 3 is provided therein. The lid 50 is provided with a seal member 60 that is in sliding contact with the track rail 10.
Is prevented from entering into the slider 20 as the slider 20 moves.

The moving block 40 includes a horizontal portion 40a on which a mounting surface 41 is formed and a pair of skirt portions 40b, 40b hanging from the horizontal portion 40a, and is formed in a substantially saddle-shaped cross section. Four load rolling surfaces 43a, 43b facing the ball rolling surfaces 11a, 11b of the track rail 10 are formed on the lower surface side and the inner surface side of each skirt portion 40b. The horizontal portion 4
0a and each skirt portion 40b has a load rolling surface 43a,
Ball return holes 44a and 44b corresponding to the respective ball rolling holes 43a and 43b and the corresponding ball return holes are formed by the direction changing path 51 of the ball 3 formed in the lid 50 described above. 44a and 44b are connected so that an infinite circulation path of the ball 3 is formed.

Thus, the ball rolling surfaces 11a and 11b of the track rail 10 and the load rolling surface 43 of the moving block 40
The ball 3 that has applied a load between the balls 3 and 43 a is moved by the movement of the slider 2.
When the rolling is completed, one of the lids 5 is released from the above load.
And the ball return holes 44a, 4 of the moving block 40 in the direction opposite to the rolling direction on the load rolling surfaces 43a, 43b in the no-load state.
Roll 4b. The ball 3 that has finished rolling in the ball return holes 44a and 44b is turned into a direction changing path 51 of the other lid 5.
Again enters the load area between the track rail 10 and the moving block 40, and rolls on the load rolling surfaces 43a and 43b while applying a load.

As shown in FIG. 6, a semicircular ball guide portion 46 is provided on both front and rear end surfaces of the moving block 40 so as to project together with a direction changing path 51 of the lid 5. The ball 3 that guides in and out of the ball return holes 44a and 44b is guided.

Further, ball holding portions 45 are formed on both sides of the load rolling surfaces 43a and 43b, and when the slider 20 is removed from the track rail 10, these load rolling surfaces 4a and 4b are formed.
The ball 3 is prevented from falling off from the balls 3a and 43b.

The moving block 40 is formed by injection molding a synthetic resin into a metal block main body 47 formed by machining. Running surface 43a, 43b
The part requiring mechanical strength, such as
On the other hand, portions where mechanical strength is not important, such as the ball return holes 44a and 44b, the ball holding portion 45, and the ball guide portion 46, are formed of synthetic resin, and the moving block 40 is made as light as possible. It is planned.

The ball return holes 44a and 44b of the moving block 40, the ball holding portion 45, and the direction changing path 51 of the cover 50 are formed with a pair of guide grooves that are continuous in the direction of circulation of the balls 3. Belt with ball 1
While the strip 5 is loosely fitted in the guide groove,
Is configured to circulate through an infinite circulation path.

FIG. 7 shows a state in which the above-mentioned ball-attached belt 1 is incorporated in the endless ball circulation path 9 of the slider 20. The ball-attached belt 1 is incorporated into a ball endless circulation path 9 together with one buffer ball 8,
In the ball endless circulation path 9, concave tip surfaces 7 formed at both ends of the connecting body belt 2 sandwich the buffer ball 8. That is, the entire length of the ball-attached belt 1 is formed to be shorter than the entire length of the ball infinite circulation path 9 by the diameter of the cushioning ball 8, and each of the concave tip surfaces 7, 7 has almost no clearance with the cushioning ball 8. It comes into contact.
In FIG. 7, a gap is drawn between the concave tip surface 7 and the cushioning ball 8, but this is for the purpose of clarifying the existence of the buffer ball 8, and actually, the concave tip surface 7 is It is preferable that the buffer ball 8 abuts.

According to the belt with ball 1 of this embodiment incorporated in the ball endless circulation path 9 of the slider 20 together with the buffering ball 8 in this manner, the linked belt 2
Is in contact with the buffer ball 8, the movement of the concave tip surface 7 is restricted by the buffer ball 8. Therefore, when the ball-attached belt 1 circulates in the infinite circulation path 9, the concave front end surface 7 of the connecting member belt 2 always faces the traveling direction of the buffer ball 8, that is, the circulation direction of the ball 3, The end portions of the ball-attached belt 1 can be prevented from rubbing against the inner wall of the endless circulation path 9 as much as possible.

According to such a belt with balls 1, as shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of belts with balls 1, 1 are incorporated in the infinite ball circulation path 9, and the belts with balls 1, 1 By interposing the buffer balls 8 between them, the infinite ball circulation path 9 can be filled with the plurality of ball-attached belts 1, and the short-length ball-attached belt can be used for the long-length ball infinite circulation path. It is possible to deal with it.

Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the belt with rolling elements of the present invention shown in FIG. 9 will be described. The ball-attached belt 61 also has a plurality of balls 3 arranged in a row at a predetermined interval on a synthetic resin connecting body belt 62, and the balls 3 can freely rotate while being held by the connecting body belt 62. It has become.

The connecting member belt 62 has four belt members 65 formed in a belt shape along the spherical surface of the balls 3 and along the direction in which the balls 3 are arranged, and the belt members 65 are adjacent to each other. The other belt member 65 is interconnected between the balls 3. A disc-shaped connecting portion 64 is formed between the balls 3 adjacent to each other, and each belt member 65 is mutually connected to another belt member 65 via the connecting portion 64, while the connecting members 64 are connected to each other. The portion 64 also serves as a spacer for preventing adjacent balls 3 from contacting each other.

The above-mentioned belt member 65 changes the spherical surface of the ball 3 to 4
The balls 3 are arranged so as to be equally divided on the upper, lower, left, and right sides of the ball row, and restrain the movement of the balls 3 from four directions so that the balls 3 do not fall out between a pair of connecting portions 64 adjacent to the row. . The belt member 65 is formed along the spherical surface of the ball 3, and when the ball-attached belt 61 is observed as a whole, the connecting member belt 62 is connected to the connecting portion 6.
4 has the most constricted shape at the formation position.

Accordingly, the ball-attached belt 61 can be freely bent in any direction as compared with the ball-attached belt 1 of the first embodiment described above. Even when incorporated into the infinite circulation path formed in the above, it is possible to smoothly circulate in the circulation path.

The connecting portion 64a at one end of the ball-attached belt 61 has a concave tip surface 66, while the connecting portion 14b at the other end has the concave tip surface 6a.
6 is formed, and the ball-attached belt 61 is provided in an infinite ball circulation path of a linear guide device or the like.
10, the concave tip surface 66 and the convex tip surface 67 face each other and come into contact with each other, as shown in FIG.

The ball-attached belt 61 is formed in exactly the same manner as the ball-attached belt 1 of the above-described first embodiment. After the molding is completed, the ball 3 can be freely rotated by immersing it in mineral oil-based lubricating oil. And

The ball-attached belt 61 of this embodiment having the above-described configuration also has the concave front end surface 66 and the convex end surface 66 when incorporated in, for example, the infinite circulation path of the linear guide device shown in FIGS. The end of the ball-attached belt 11 is in contact with the end of the ball-like belt 11 during the circulation in the endless circulation path, as in the first embodiment. The ball-attached belt 11 can be smoothly circulated without rubbing the portion with the inner wall of the endless circulation path.

Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment of the belt with rolling elements of the present invention shown in FIGS. 11 to 13 will be described. The ball-attached belt 71 of this embodiment has substantially the same configuration as the ball-attached belt 11 of the above-described first embodiment, but in order to make the movement of the slider 20 in the direction change path 51 smoother. A guide piece 72 is protruded from both ends of the connecting body belt 2 so that the ball-attached belt 71 enters the direction change path with the guide piece 72 at the head. The other configuration is completely the same as that of the second embodiment, and therefore, the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment are used in the drawing, and the detailed description is omitted.

The guide piece 72 projects in the longitudinal direction of the connecting member belt 2 from the spacers 4a located at both ends of the connecting member belt 2 as shown in FIG. 5 are formed continuously. Then, the guiding piece 72 thus formed is, as shown in FIG.
Together with the band 5, the slider 5 is loosely fitted in a guide groove 90 formed in the ball endless circulation path 9 of the slider 20.

Therefore, when the ball-attached belt 71 of the third embodiment is incorporated in the endless circulation path of the slider 20 of the aforementioned linear guide device and circulated, the ball-attached belt 71
Circulates through the endless circulation path with the guide piece 72 projecting further forward than the balls 3 located at both ends thereof, so that the guide groove 9 is formed in a curved portion such as the direction change path 51.
Since the ball 3 enters the direction change path while being guided by the guiding piece 72 that traces the zero, it is possible to prevent the ball from rubbing or being caught on the inner wall of the infinite circulation path near the entrance of the direction change path. It is possible to promote smooth circulation of the ball-attached belt 71 in the infinite circulation path.

Further, in this embodiment, when the ball-attached belt 71 enters the direction change path of the endless circulation path, there is a concern that the guide piece 72 itself may rub against the guide groove. In order to facilitate the circulation of the ball-attached belt 71, it is preferable that the tip of the guide piece 72 be slightly bent toward the inner diameter direction of the direction change path 51 as shown in FIG.

Fourth Embodiment Next, a fourth embodiment of the belt with rolling elements of the present invention shown in FIG. 14 will be described. The ball-attached belt 81 of this embodiment has substantially the same configuration as the ball-attached belt 61 of the above-described second embodiment, but the tip of the ball-attached belt circulating in the infinite circulation path is more likely to enter the load area. In order to make it easier, the balls 3a, 3b located at both ends of the connecting member belt 2 have a smaller diameter than the other balls 3. The other configuration is completely the same as that of the second embodiment, and therefore, the same reference numerals as those of the second embodiment are used in the drawing, and the detailed description is omitted.

The balls 3 rolling in the infinite circulation path are in the load area, that is, the load rolling surfaces 43a, 43b of the slider 20.
Between the ball rolling surfaces 11a and 11b of the track rail 10 and the ball rolling surfaces 11a and 11b are slightly elastically deformed by a load. The distance between the load rolling surfaces 43a and 43b and the ball rolling surfaces 11a and 11b is smaller than the diameter of the ball 3. Is also small. Therefore, the balls 3a, 3b located at both ends of the
Even if the diameter of the ball is smaller than the diameter of the other balls 3, such a ball contacts both the load rolling surfaces 43a and 43b and the ball rolling surfaces 11a and 11b in the load area, and can apply a part of the load. . However, if the diameter of the balls 3a, 3b is extremely smaller than the other balls 3, the balls 3a, 3b
Since 3b plays without applying a load in the load area, its diameter needs to be determined from the relationship with the preload amount of the other balls 3.

Then, as described above, the load rolling surfaces 43a, 43
Since the distance between the ball 3b and the ball rolling surfaces 11a and 11b is smaller than the diameter of the ball 3, when the ball-equipped belt having the same diameter of all the balls 3 is circulated in the infinite circulation path, the tip of the ball-equipped belt becomes The stagnation is likely to occur in the movement of the ball-attached belt immediately before entering the load area. However, when the ball-attached belt 81 of the fourth embodiment configured as described above is circulated, the balls 3a and 3b located at the leading end of the ball-attached belt 81 have smaller diameters than the other balls 3. Therefore, the tip of the ball-attached belt 81 is more likely to rush into the load region, and the circulation of the ball-attached belt 81 in the endless circulation path can be facilitated.

Fifth Embodiment Next, a fifth embodiment of the belt with rolling elements of the present invention will be described. The ball-attached belt of this embodiment has substantially the same configuration as the ball-attached belt 61 of the second embodiment, but the tip of the ball-attached belt circulating in the infinite circulation path makes it easier to enter the load area. In this case, the balls located at both ends of the connecting member belt 2 are made of synthetic resin balls having a smaller longitudinal elastic modulus than steel balls.
The other configuration is exactly the same as that of the second embodiment, so that the detailed description is omitted here.

Since the ball is crushed by the load and elastically deforms when it enters the load area, a ball which is less likely to be elastically deformed, that is, a ball having a higher longitudinal elastic modulus, exerts a greater resistance when entering the load area. I can say that. Therefore, if the balls located at both ends of the ball-attached belt are made of synthetic resin balls having a small longitudinal elastic modulus, such balls tend to enter the load region more easily than other steel balls,
When the tip of the ball-attached belt reaches just before the load area, the movement of the ball-attached belt does not stagnate, and the circulation of the ball-attached belt in the infinite circulation path can be further smoothed. Things.

Further, if the pair of synthetic resin balls located at both ends of the ball-attached belt are made smaller in diameter than the other balls, as in the fourth embodiment described above, the load area at the tip of the ball-attached belt is reduced. Of the belt with the ball in the endless circulation path can be further facilitated.

[0060]

As described above, according to the belt with rolling elements of the present invention, the endless end of the linked belt in which a large number of rolling elements are arranged is devised in various ways to form an endless circulation path. This prevents both ends of the incorporated belt with rolling elements from rubbing against the inner wall of the endless circulation path, thereby making it possible to make circulation in the endless circulation path as smooth as possible.

According to the belt with rolling elements of the present invention,
By devising the size and material of the balls located at both ends of the ball, it is possible to prevent a large resistance from acting on the belt with the rolling elements when the tip of the belt with the rolling elements enters the load area. It is possible to make the circulation in the circulation path as smooth as possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a belt with balls as a first embodiment of a belt with rolling elements of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a belt with balls as a first embodiment of the belt with rolling elements of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing an end of the belt with balls according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a front view and a cross-sectional view showing an example of a linear guide device into which the belt with a ball according to the first embodiment is incorporated.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing an example of a linear guide device in which the ball-attached belt according to the first embodiment is incorporated.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the ball-attached belt according to the first embodiment is incorporated in an infinite ball circulation path.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing a state in which a plurality of ball-attached belts according to the embodiment are incorporated in an infinite ball circulation path.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a belt with balls as a second embodiment of the belt with rolling elements of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view showing a state where both ends of a ball-attached belt according to the second embodiment are in contact in an endless circulation path.

FIG. 11 is a side view showing a belt with balls as a third embodiment of the belt with rolling elements of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a belt with balls as a third embodiment of the belt with rolling elements of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged view showing a state in which the ball-attached belt according to the third embodiment circulates in an infinite circulation path.

FIG. 14 is a plan view showing a belt with balls as a fourth embodiment of the belt with rolling elements of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a plan view showing a conventional ball chain.

FIG. 16 is a side view showing a conventional ball chain.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a conventional ball chain is incorporated in an infinite ball circulation path of a linear guide device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... belt with ball, 2 ... linked body belt, 3 ... ball,
7: concave tip surface, 8: cushioning ball

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Wataru Yamakura 3-11-6 Nishi-Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of rolling elements, and these rolling elements are arranged in a line at a predetermined interval and rotatably held.
A connecting member belt that connects rolling members adjacent to each other with each other, and is used by being incorporated in an infinite circulation path of the rolling member provided in the bearing device, wherein the connecting member belt is At both ends in the longitudinal direction, there is provided a pair of concave tip surfaces opposed to each other via one buffer rolling element in the infinite circulation path. A belt with rolling elements, which holds rolling elements. 2. A plurality of rolling elements, and these rolling elements are arranged in a line at a predetermined interval and rotatably held,
A belt with rolling elements, which comprises a rolling element belt that connects rolling elements adjacent to each other and is used by being incorporated into an infinite circulation path of the rolling elements provided in the bearing device. One end in the longitudinal direction has a concave tip surface, while the other end has a convex tip surface that matches the concave tip surface, and these concave tip surfaces and convex tip surfaces are circulated in the infinite circulation path. A belt with a rolling element characterized by contact 3. A plurality of rolling elements, and these rolling elements are arranged in a line at a predetermined interval and rotatably held therein.
A belt with rolling elements, which is composed of a connecting body belt connecting mutually adjacent rolling elements to each other and is used by being incorporated in an infinite circulation path of the rolling elements provided in the bearing device. A pair of guide grooves continuous along the path are formed in the path, and the link belt protrudes in the longitudinal direction from the rolling elements located at both ends in the longitudinal direction, and the guide groove A belt with rolling elements, characterized in that a guide piece is formed to be fitted in and guide the coupled body belt in an infinite circulation path. 4. The belt with a rolling element according to claim 3, wherein a tip end of a guide piece formed on the connecting member belt is bent toward an inner circumference of an infinite circulation path. belt. 5. A plurality of rolling elements, and these rolling elements are arranged in a line at a predetermined interval and rotatably held.
A belt with rolling elements, comprising a rolling element belt that connects rolling elements adjacent to each other to each other, and used by being incorporated in an infinite circulation path of the rolling elements provided in the bearing device. A rolling element belt, wherein the rolling elements located at both ends in the direction have smaller diameters than the other rolling elements. 6. A plurality of rolling elements, and these rolling elements are arranged in a line at a predetermined interval and rotatably held,
A belt with rolling elements, comprising a rolling element belt that connects rolling elements adjacent to each other to each other, and used by being incorporated in an infinite circulation path of the rolling elements provided in the bearing device. A rolling element belt, wherein the rolling elements located at both ends in the direction have a smaller longitudinal elastic modulus than other rolling elements. 7. The belt with rolling elements according to claim 6, wherein the rolling elements located at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the connecting belt have smaller diameters than the other rolling elements. .