JPH1162962A - Spacer member for rolling guide device and rolling guide device using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a spacer member for a rolling guide device to give a function to guide a ball along a specified route with the ball held in an infinite circulation passage, eliminate a need to select a material by giving priority to flexibility, have a general purpose property to be commonly used to a rolling guide devices different in the overall length of an infinite circulation passage, and facilitate incorporation of it in the infinite circulation passage. SOLUTION: Spacer members 1A are mounted alternately with balls 5 on the infinite circulation passage 20 of a rolling guide device. The spacer member 1A comprises a spacer part 2 interposed between the adjoining balls 5 and having a recess formed in a part facing the ball 5 and receiving the spherical surface of the ball 5: and at least a pair of arm parts 3 and 3 extending from one side of the spacer part 2 in a manner to nip the ball 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a spacer member which is mounted on an infinite circulation path of a rolling guide device such as a linear guide device, a ball spline device and a ball screw device so as to be alternately arranged with balls as rolling elements, and a spacer member. And a rolling guide device using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a rolling guide device used for a guide portion of a machine tool, an industrial robot, or the like, there is a rolling guide device in which a spacer member is interposed between a number of balls mounted on an infinite circulation path. When such a spacer member is provided, the friction between the balls is eliminated, the wear of the balls is suppressed, and a space for retaining a lubricant such as grease is secured between the balls, so that the lubrication performance is maintained for a long time. Therefore, the life of the ball is improved. There is also an advantage that the collision between balls is eliminated and noise is reduced.

There is also a rolling guide device in which a plurality of spacer members arranged between balls are connected to each other by belts to form a connected body (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. HEI 5-1993).
-52217). When such a connecting body is provided, not only can the friction between the balls be prevented at the spacer portion, but also by running the belt slidably in the guide groove provided in the infinite circulation path. In addition, the spacer can be moved orderly in a predetermined direction without meandering in the endless circulation path. Therefore, it is possible to smoothly circulate the ball without wobbling, thereby improving the accuracy of guiding the moving body of the rolling guide device.

[0004]

However, the above-described linked body has the following problems.

[0005] First, the endless circulation path of the rolling guide device largely changes its direction. Therefore, in order for the connecting body to run smoothly in the direction changing portion, it is essential that the connecting body be made of a flexible material. As a result, the materials that can be used as the connector are limited. In order to reduce the running resistance of the connecting body or to increase the durability, it is desirable that the connecting body be made of a material having a low coefficient of friction, high wear resistance, and excellent self-lubricating properties. It is difficult to select a material that satisfies both requirements and flexibility, and as a result, the material must be selected with priority given to flexibility.

Further, since the length of the endless circulation path varies depending on the type and size of the rolling guide device, it is necessary to change the total length of the connecting body according to the difference. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare a plurality of dies for a ball having the same diameter and manufacture a large number of connected bodies having different lengths, which increases the manufacturing cost of the connected body.

Further, when using a connecting body, it is necessary to mount a long connecting body on an infinite circulation path while paying attention so that the balls do not fall off after a large number of balls are mounted on the connecting body. Therefore, it takes time to assemble the ball.

On the other hand, when only spacers are arranged between the balls instead of the connecting members, the individual spacers do not independently bend between the spacers, so that the flexibility of the material is taken into consideration. There is no need to perform this, and the degree of freedom in material selection is high. If the ball diameter is the same, a common spacer can be used regardless of the total length of the infinite circulation path. When the rolling guide device is assembled, the ball and the spacer can be mounted alternately on the infinite circulation path, so that it is easy to assemble. It is. However, in the case of a simple spacer, the ball cannot be held at a predetermined position in the endless circulation path like a connected body, and the meandering of the ball cannot be prevented.

The present invention has a function of guiding the ball along a fixed path while holding the ball in an infinite circulation path as in the case of the conventional connector, and further, does not require material selection giving priority to flexibility. Provided is a spacer member having versatility that can be commonly used for rolling guide devices having different total lengths of an infinite circulation path and can be easily incorporated into an infinite circulation path, and a rolling guide device using the spacer member. With the goal.

[0010]

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described. In addition, reference numerals in the accompanying drawings are illustrated in parentheses to facilitate understanding of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments.

The invention according to claim 1 is a rolling guide device (10).
In the spacer member (1A, 1B) mounted alternately with the ball (5) in the infinite circulation path (20) of (A), the spacer member (1A, 1B) is interposed between the adjacent balls (5) and faces the ball (5). A spacer (2) provided with a recess (2a) for receiving the spherical surface of the ball (5), and at least extending from one side of the spacer (2) so as to sandwich the ball (5). A spacer member (1) having a pair of arms (3, 3)
A) solves the above-mentioned problem.

According to the present invention, the arm (3) projecting outward from the ball (5) is infinitely circulated while preventing contact and mutual friction between the balls (5) at the spacer (2). Road (2
0), the spacer member (1A,
1B) can be moved along a fixed path in the endless circuit (20). Therefore, the ball (5) fitted and held in the recess (2a) of the spacer (2) moves smoothly without meandering on the no-load rolling path (19) of the infinite circulation path (20). Can be done.

Moreover, since the spacer members (1A, 1B) are not connected to each other, no bending acts between the spacer members (1A, 1B) in the direction changing path (18) of the endless circulation path (20). Also, the arm (3) only partially fits the guide (21) of the infinite circulation path (20), and the bending action when the arm (3) passes through the direction change path (18). Is much smaller than that received by conventional connectors. Therefore, giving priority to flexibility, the spacer members (1A, 1A)
There is no need to select the material B), and the spacer members (1A, 1B) are made of a material having a low coefficient of friction, high wear resistance, and excellent self-lubricating properties to reduce the running resistance of the spacer members. And the life can be improved.

Further, if the ball diameter is the same, a common spacer member (1A, 1B) can be used, and the infinite circulation path (2
It is not necessary to prepare different spacer members according to the total length of 0). When assembling the rolling guide device, the balls (5) and the spacer members (1A or 1B) may be alternately incorporated in the infinite circulation path (20), and all the balls (5) and the spacer members (1A) are provided outside the device. , 1B) need not be assembled beforehand.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the spacer member (1A) of the first aspect, a pair of arms (3, 3) are provided only on one side of the spacer (2). is there.

According to the present invention, the spacer member (1A)
And the ball (5) arranged between the pair of arms (3, 3), the other ball (5) and the spacer member (1A).
And a unit (U1) independent from the unit (U1), and the ball (5) and the spacer member (1A) can be assembled into the infinite circulation path (20) in an efficient manner by using the unit (U1) as a unit.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the spacer member (1B) of the first aspect, a pair of arms (3, 3) are provided on both sides of the spacer (2), respectively. Of the ball (5) is displaced in the circumferential direction of the ball (5) with respect to the arm (3, 3) on the other side of the spacer (2). Things.

According to the present invention, the pair of balls (5, 5) adjacent to each other with the spacer (2) interposed therebetween is connected to the spacer member (1).
The arms of (B) can be linked to each other to form a chain of the ball (5) and the spacer member (1B). Therefore, as in the case where the spacers are connected to each other by the connecting body, the continuity of the movement of the balls (5), that is, when the ball (5) preceding the ball (5) in the moving direction pulls the subsequent ball (5). At the same time, it is possible to ensure the cooperative action that the following ball (5) pushes out the preceding ball (5). By this linking action, irregular movement of the individual balls (5), in other words, meandering and speed fluctuation of the balls (5) can be suppressed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the spacer member according to any one of the first to third aspects, the ball (5) can be held by the pair of arms (3, 3). Therefore,
The ball (5) can be stably held by the recess (2a) of the spacer (2) and the pair of arms (3, 3).

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the spacer member according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the recess (2) of the spacer (2) is provided.
a) is provided with a lubricant holding portion (2b).
Therefore, the lubrication performance of the ball (5) can be reliably ensured for a long period of time, and the life of the ball (5) can be further improved.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a track member (11),
A rolling guide device comprising: a moving body (12) movably mounted on a track member (11) via a number of balls (5 ...);
And the spacer member (1A, 1B) according to any of
A load rolling path (16) formed between the track member (11) and the moving body (12), and formed on the moving body (12) so as to connect one end and the other end of the load rolling path (16). Endless circuit (20) composed of the no-load rolling path (19)
The arms (3) of the spacer members (1A, 1B) are alternately attached to the infinite circulation path (20).
The above-mentioned problem is solved by a rolling guide device provided with a guide portion (21) for guiding in the extending direction of the vehicle.

According to the present invention, as described above, the spacer members (1A, 1B) function to prevent mutual friction between the balls (5), and at the same time, hold the balls (5) in the recesses (2a). Since the ball (5) has a function of guiding along a fixed path, the life of the ball (5) can be improved, noise can be suppressed, and the deterioration of the guidance accuracy of the moving body (12) due to the wobbling of the ball (5) can be prevented. Then, the spacer member (1
A, 1B) can be made of a material having a small coefficient of friction, high wear resistance and excellent self-lubricating property, so that the running resistance of the spacer member can be reduced and the moving body (12) can be moved more smoothly. Can be combined with spacer members (1A, 1B)
The life of the device can be improved. The spacer members (1A, 1B) have the versatility that they can be commonly used regardless of the total length of the infinite circulation path (20) if the ball diameter is the same, and the spacer members (1A, 1B) to the infinite circulation path (20).
Incorporation of 1B) and ball (5) is a simple operation of simply mounting them alternately, so that the manufacturing cost of the rolling guide device can be reduced.

In the invention according to each of the above-mentioned claims, the rolling guide device is not limited to a linear guide device or a ball spline device, but a track member and a moving body are combined via a ball, and the ball is rolled between the two. And various devices for moving the moving body relative to the track member while moving the moving body. For example, in the invention of claim 7, the rolling guide device includes a screw shaft (51) as a track member, and a nut as a moving body attached to the screw shaft (51) via a ball (5) so as to be relatively rotatable. (52) and a ball screw device (5
0A, 50B, 50C).

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows a spacer member according to the first embodiment. This spacer member 1A
It has a spacer 2 and a pair of arms 3. Spacer 2
Is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and the outer diameter thereof is set smaller than the diameter of the ball 5 used as a rolling element of the rolling guide device. At both ends of the spacer 2, recesses 2a, 2a which are depressed into a spherical shape in conformity with the ball 5 are formed. At the center of the recess 2a, a lubricant holding the spacer 2 in the direction of the axis A thereof is held. An oil reservoir hole 2b is formed as a part. Note that, by making the spacer 2 thin, the distance between the balls 5 can be reduced, and the number of balls mounted on the rolling guide device can be increased.

The arms 3 and 3 project from the outer periphery of the spacer 2 to one side in the axial direction while being curved so as to draw an arc corresponding to the ball 5. The arms 3 are symmetrical about the axis A of the spacer 2. The spacer 2 and the arms 3 are integrally formed by injection molding using a synthetic resin as a material. As the synthetic resin, a material having a small coefficient of friction, high wear resistance, and excellent self-lubricating properties is selected.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show one embodiment of a rolling guide device using the spacer member 1A. The rolling guide device 10A includes a track rail 11 as a track member.
And a moving body 12 movably attached to the track rail 11 via the balls 5.

The track rail 11 is a long member having a substantially rectangular cross section. Load rolling grooves 11a...
1 is formed over the entire length. The track rail 11 is formed with a plurality of bolt mounting holes 11b at appropriate intervals in the longitudinal direction. These bolt mounting holes 11b
The track rail 11 is fixed by bolts (not shown) attached to the
Is fixed to a predetermined mounting surface, for example, an upper surface of a bed of a machine tool. Although the illustrated track rail 11 is linear, a curved rail may be used.

The moving body 12 includes a block body 13 made of a high-strength material such as steel, and the block body 13.
And a molded body 14 made of synthetic resin, which is integrally molded as an insert part, and side covers 15 and 15 fixed to both ends of the molded body 14 with bolts (not shown). In some cases, the molded body 14 may be formed separately from the block body 13 and then combined in a subsequent step.

The block body 13 has a load rolling groove 11
a, 11a and two load rolling grooves 13 facing each other
a, 13a are provided. These load rolling grooves 11
By the combination of a and 13a, two load rolling paths 16 and 16 are formed between the track rail 11 and the moving body 12. On the upper surface 13b of the block body 13, a plurality (4 in FIG.
) Are formed. These internal threads 1
The moving body 12 is fixed to a predetermined mounting surface, for example, a saddle of a machine tool or a lower surface of a table using the 3c.

In the molded body 14, two return paths 17, 17 extending in parallel with the load rolling paths 16 are formed. Load rolling grooves 13a and return paths 17 are formed on both end faces of the molded body 14.
(In FIG. 3, only one on one end side is shown) that protrudes in an arch shape. The side cover 15 is formed with a ball guide groove 15a that is depressed in an arch shape corresponding to the ball guide portion 14a.

By fixing the side cover 15 to the molded body 14, the ball guide portion 14a and the ball guide groove 15a are combined, and the load rolling path 16 and the return path 17 are interposed therebetween.
A U-shaped direction change path 18 connecting the two is formed. The return path 17 and the direction change path 18 form a no-load rolling path 19 of the ball 5, and the combination of the no-load rolling path 19 and the load rolling path 16 forms an infinite circulation path 20. The cross-sectional shape and dimensions of the infinite circulation path 20 are such that a circular cross section having the same diameter as the ball 5 is drawn on the loaded rolling path 16, and a circular cross section having a diameter somewhat larger than the ball 5 is drawn on the unloaded rolling path 19. Each is set.

On the inner peripheral surface of the endless circulation path 20, a pair of guide grooves 21 and 21 for receiving the arms 3 and 3 of the spacer member 1A are provided.
1 is formed over the entire length of the infinite circulation path 20. As shown in FIG. 4, in order to prevent the ball 5 from falling off from the load rolling path 16 when the moving body 12 is removed from the track rail 11, the molded body 14 has a load rolling groove 13 a.
A pair of ball holding portions 14b, 14b are formed so as to sandwich the guide grooves 21 and 21 on the load rolling path 16.
Are formed on these ball holding portions 14b, 14b. In the return path 17, the guide groove 21 is formed integrally with the molded body 14, and in the direction change path 18, the guide groove 21 is formed between the ball guide portion 14a and the ball guide groove 15a.

As shown in FIG. 1B, by disposing the ball 5 between the pair of arms 3 and 3 of the spacer member 1A, a set of the ball 5 and the spacer member 1A is formed. A unit U1 is configured. The oil reservoir 2b is filled with a lubricant such as grease. The arms 3, 3 may be elastically deformed so as to be pushed outward by the ball 5, and the ball 5 may be held with a restoring force against the arm. However, the holding force is limited so as not to hinder free rotation of the ball 5 with respect to the spacer member 1A.

Then, while fitting the arms 3 and 3 of the spacer member 1A into the guide grooves 21 and 21, the balls 5 and the spacer members 1A are alternately arranged as shown in FIG. By filling the required number of units U1 in the circulation path 20, the rolling guide device 10A is configured.
At this time, the number of units U1 required is
However, if the balls 5 have the same diameter, the spacer member 1A may be common. Therefore, a mold for molding the spacer member 1A may be used in common, whereby the manufacturing cost of the rolling guide device 10A can be reduced. Incorporation of the spacer member 1A and the ball 5 is also easy.

FIG. 5 shows that when the moving body 12 moves along the track rail 11, the ball 5 and the spacer member 1 A move between the load rolling path 16 and the return path 17 via the turning path 18. It shows the situation. As is apparent from this figure, since the spacers 1A prevent the friction between the balls 5 by the spacers 2A, the wear of the balls 5 and the contact noise between the balls 5 are suppressed. A lubricant such as grease is held in each of the oil reservoir holes 2b and the gap between the outer periphery of the spacer 2 and the inner peripheral surface of the infinite circulation path 20, and moves in the infinite circulation path 20 integrally with the ball 5. Therefore, the ball 5 is reliably lubricated for a long time. Also on this surface, the life of the ball 5 is extended, and the noise when the moving body 12 moves is reduced.

Further, since the arm 3 of the spacer member 1A is guided in a predetermined direction along the guide groove 21 while the ball 5 is held in the recess 2a of the spacer 2, the diameter of the ball 5 is smaller than the diameter of the ball 5. Even in the no-load rolling path 19 which is formed somewhat larger, the ball 5 does not meander but has an infinite circulation path 20.
Move in the direction in which it extends. Thereby, the ball 5
The precision of the guidance of the moving body 12 is reduced due to the wobbling, more specifically, the ball 5 collides with the wall surface of the endless circulation path 20 to generate a slight vibration in the moving body 12, whereby the moving body 12 moves in the direction of the track rail 11. There is no danger that the guidance accuracy will be degraded by swaying left and right. In particular, since the ball 5 smoothly moves from the direction changing path 18 to the load rolling path 16 at the boundary between the direction changing path 18 and the load rolling path 16 (portion C in FIG. 2), the guidance accuracy of the moving body 12 is improved. Is kept high.

That is, in the above boundary portion C,
A tapered portion that gradually narrows toward the load rolling path 16 is provided so as to gradually apply a preload to the ball 5 and smoothly move the ball 5 to the load rolling path 16. Therefore, when the ball 5 is not guided by the spacer member 1A,
The ball 5 may meander according to the play of the tapered portion. When the meandering occurs, the ball 5 is clogged at the boundary portion C and temporarily stops, and the stopped ball 5 is pushed out by the following ball 5 and is suddenly sent to the load rolling path 16. When the irregular and intermittent movement occurs, the contact between the ball 5 and the moving body 12 causes the moving body 12 to move.
Vibrates finely and the guiding accuracy is reduced. To prevent this intermittent movement, the ball 5 must be
It is necessary to smoothly move from the no-load rolling path 19 to the loaded rolling path 16 while accurately aligning with the center line of the above, but the arm portions 3 of the spacer member 1A described above are moved along the guide grooves 21 and 21. By doing so, the guidance of the ball 5 can be realized, and the guidance accuracy of the moving body 12 can be improved.

Further, since the spacer members 1A are independent of each other without being connected to each other, no bending acts between the spacer members 1A in the direction change path 18.
In addition, only a part of the arms 3 and 3 (the portion indicated by the width B in FIGS. 1B and 5) fits in the guide grooves 21 and 21 only. , 21 is much smaller than the bending effect received by the belt of the conventional coupling. Therefore, even if the spacer member 1A is made of a material having poor flexibility, the spacer member 1A moves smoothly on the direction change path 18. In order to reduce the amount of bending deformation of the arms 3, 3, the guide grooves 21 of the turning path 18 are wider than the guide grooves 21 of the load rolling path 16 and the return path 17 as shown in FIG. 5. An enlarged portion 21a may be provided.

Since the spacer members 1A are independent of each other, the degree of freedom of the positional relationship between the load rolling path 16 and the return path 17 is increased as compared with the case where a conventional connector is used. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, a plane P passing through the center of the load rolling path 16 and perpendicular to the pair of guide grooves 21 and 21 is formed.
Is assumed, it is easy to bend the conventional connector along the plane P. However, if the conventional connector is bent in an oblique direction with respect to the plane P, the connector will be twisted. Then, as the angle θ between the surface P and the bending direction increases, the torsion increases, and it becomes difficult to smoothly bend and deform the connected body. However, since the spacer members 1A described above are independent of each other, no twisting acts between the spacer members 1A even if the angle θ in FIG. 4 is large. Therefore, even if the return path 17 is arranged at a position deviated from the plane P, the circulation of the spacer member 1A is not hindered at all, and the return path 1 is moved to an appropriate position according to the dimensions of the rolling guide device 10A.
7 can be arranged, so that the degree of freedom of the layout of the infinite circulation path 20 is also increased.

FIGS. 6 to 10 show a second embodiment of the present invention. In each drawing, the same reference numerals are given to the same parts as those in FIGS. 1 to 5, and the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 6 shows a spacer member 1B according to the second embodiment. This spacer member 1B is
Is different from the spacer member 1A of the first embodiment in that a pair of arms 3 are provided on both sides of the spacer member 1A. The arms 3, 3 on one side of the spacer 2 and the arms 3, 3 on the other side are mutually 90 ° in the circumferential direction of the ball 5, in other words, around the axis A of the spacer 2. ° staggered. The material of the spacer member 1B may be the same as that of the spacer member 1A of the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 6C, the ball 5 is arranged between one of the arms 3 and 3 of the spacer member 1B to form one unit U2. Then, a chain of the units U2 is formed by fitting the arms 3, 3 on the opposite side of the spacer member 1B to the outer periphery of the ball 5 of the unit U2 adjacent thereto.

FIGS. 7 to 9 show a rolling guide device 10B in which the spacer member 1B is incorporated. The rolling guide device 10B is different from the rolling guide device 10B in that four guide grooves 21 are formed in each endless circulation path 20 in correspondence with the four arms 3 provided in the spacer member 1B. 4 is different from the rolling guide device 10A shown in FIG. In addition, the two guide grooves 21 in the load rolling path 16 correspond to the devices 10 in FIGS.
A is formed in the ball holding portion 14b of the molded body 14 similarly to A, and the other two guide grooves 21 are load rolling grooves 11a, 13a.
Are formed at the center (deepest position).

Also in this rolling guide device 10B, the arm 3 is guided by the guide groove 21 while the contact of the ball 5 is prevented by the spacer 2 of the spacer member 1B.
Move orderly in the infinite circulation path 20, and as a result, the life of the ball 5 is improved, the noise is reduced, and the guidance accuracy of the moving body 12 is improved. Since the spacer members 1B are independent of each other, the degree of freedom in material selection is high. In addition, even if the return path 17 is disposed obliquely above or below the load rolling path 16, the spacer member 1 </ b> B is not twisted, and the infinite circulation path 2.
0 has a high degree of freedom in layout.

In addition, since the units U2 composed of the ball 5 and the spacer member 1B form a chain with each other, the preceding ball 5 in the moving direction pulls the succeeding ball 5 via the spacer member 1B. At the same time, a cooperative action occurs in which the following ball 5 pushes out the preceding ball 5 via the spacer member 1B, so that the meandering and speed fluctuation of the ball 5 are suppressed. By this linking action, in particular, the boundary portion C between the load rolling path 16 and the turning path 18 (see FIG. 10).
In the above, from the above-mentioned turning path 18 to the load rolling path 16
The intermittent movement which tends to occur when the ball 5 moves to the side is more reliably prevented.

In the above, the embodiment in which the spacer member 1A or 1B is mounted on the left and right two endless circulation paths 20, 20 of the rolling guide devices 10A, 10B has been described. Can be implemented. 11 to 13
Is a rolling guide device 10 having four infinite circulation paths 20.
Third, fourth, and fifth embodiments in which spacer members 1B are incorporated into C, 10D, and 10E, respectively, are shown.
The rolling guide device 10C shown in FIG.
Are provided with two load rolling paths 16 on both sides thereof so as to withstand a large load.

The rolling guide device 10D shown in FIG. 12 has two load rolling paths 16 and 16 arranged on the upper surface of the track rail 11 and two load rolling paths 16 and 16 on the side surface. The rolling guide device 10E shown in (2) has two load rolling paths 16 and 16 at the upper corner of the track rail 11,
Two load rolling paths 16, 16 are arranged on the side surface, respectively.

In these embodiments, a gap as a guide groove 21 is provided between both side edges of the load rolling grooves 11 a and 13 a and the holding portion 14 b of the molded body 14 on the load rolling path 16, Guide groove 2 into running grooves 11a, 13a
No processing of 1 is required. Thereby, the load rolling groove 1
Since the contact grooves 1a and 13a are not divided by the guide grooves 21 and the contact length between the load rolling grooves 11a and 13a and the ball 5 is increased, the surface pressure applied to the ball 5 is reduced and the rolling guide device has a larger load. Be able to endure.

In the rolling guide device 10E shown in FIG. 13, the arms 3, 3 provided on one side of the spacer member 1B are provided.
The angle φ between the arm 3 and the arm 3 on the opposite side is set to an angle smaller than 90 °. Thereby, the load rolling groove 11
a, 13a, that is, the contact length between the ball 5 and the load rolling grooves 11a, 13a by increasing the arc length of the load rolling grooves 11a, 13a appearing in a cross section orthogonal to the track rail 11. Is expanding further.

FIGS. 14 and 15 show a sixth embodiment of the present invention in which the spacer member 1B is used for a ball spline device. This ball spline device 30
Has a spline shaft 31 as a track member, and a nut 32 as a moving body movably attached to the spline shaft 31 via a number of balls 5. The spline shaft 31 is formed in a long cylindrical shape, and a ridge 33 extending in the axial direction is provided at a position that divides the outer peripheral surface into three equal parts in the circumferential direction.
Are formed respectively. A pair of load rolling grooves 33a, 33a are formed on the side surface of each ridge 33, respectively.

The nut 32 has a substantially cylindrical nut body 35 formed of a high-strength material such as steel, and a synthetic resin molded body 36 mounted on the inner periphery of the nut body 35.
And an end cap 3 fixed to both ends of the molded body 36
7, 37. On the outer periphery of the nut body 35,
A keyway 32a is formed to prevent the nut 32 from rotating in the circumferential direction with respect to the mating component. A load rolling groove 33 of the spline shaft 31 is provided on an inner periphery of the nut body 35.
a, 33a and two load rolling grooves 35 facing each other
a, 35a are provided. These load rolling grooves 35
A total of six load rolling paths 38 are formed, one on each side of each ridge 33 of the spline shaft 31, by the combination of a and 35a.

Returning paths 39 extending in parallel with the load rolling path 38 are formed in the molded body 36. By combining the molded body 36 and the end caps 37, 37, direction change paths 40, 40 connecting the return path 39 and the load rolling path 38 are formed therebetween. A combination of the return path 39 and the direction change path 40 forms a no-load rolling path 41 of the ball 5, and a combination of the no-load rolling path 41 and the load rolling path 38 forms an infinite circulation path 42. A spacer member 1B is provided on the inner peripheral surface of each endless circulation path 42.
Are formed over the entire length of the endless circulation path 42.

The necessary number of balls 5 and spacer members 1B are alternately mounted on the endless circulation path 42,
The arm 3 of B is fitted in the guide groove 43. Then, as the nut 32 moves along the spline shaft 31, the ball 5 and the spacer member 1 </ b> B
Circulates inside. At this time, the above-described rolling guide device 10
As in the example of A to 10E, the spacer 2 of the spacer member 1B
At the same time, the contact of the ball 5 is prevented by the guide action of the spacer member 1B by the guide groove 43.
Move orderly in the infinite circulation path 42. As a result, the life of the ball 5 is improved, the noise is reduced, and the accuracy of guiding the nut 32 is improved.

FIGS. 16 and 17 show a seventh embodiment of the present invention in which the spacer member 1B is used for a ball screw device. As shown in these figures, the ball screw device 50A has a screw shaft 51 as a track member, and a nut 52 as a moving body movably attached to the screw shaft 51 via a number of balls 5. ing. On the outer periphery of the screw shaft 51, a spiral extending around the screw shaft 51 is provided.
Stripe load rolling grooves 51a, 51a are formed.

The nut 52 has a nut main body 53 made of a high-strength material such as steel, and lids 54, 54 attached to both ends thereof. A flange 52a for attaching the nut 52 to its counterpart is formed on the outer periphery of the nut body 53. On the inner periphery of the nut main body 53, two load rolling grooves 53a, 53a extending spirally opposite to the load rolling grooves 51a, 51a are formed. The spiral load rolling paths 55, 55 are formed by a combination of these load rolling grooves 51a, 53a.

The nut body 53 is provided inside the nut body 53.
Two return paths 56, 56 penetrating through 3 in the axial direction are formed. The lid 54 has a return piece 57 and a cover 58 placed on the outside thereof. The left and right return pieces 57 are formed with direction change paths 59, 59 connecting the return path 56 and the load rolling path 55, respectively. Have been. Return path 5
The unloaded rolling paths 60, 60 of the ball 5 are constituted by the combination of the direction changing paths 59, 59 and the direction change paths 59, 59. Two combinations of the unloaded rolling paths 60, 60 and the loaded rolling paths 55 Infinite circulation paths 61, 61 are configured.

As shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B, the arm 3 of the spacer member 1B is provided on the inner peripheral surface of each endless circulation path 61.
Are formed over the entire length of the endless circulation path 61. That is, in the load rolling path 55, the guide grooves 62 are formed one by one at the center (deepest part) of the load rolling grooves 51a and 53a, and the outer circumference of the screw shaft 51 and the nut body 53 are formed.
The two guide grooves 62 are formed using the gap between the inner groove and the inner periphery of the groove (see FIG. 17A). On the return path 56,
Four guide grooves 62 are formed in the nut body 53 (FIG. 1).
7 (b)). In the direction change path 59, four guide grooves 62 are formed in the return piece 57.

In the infinite circulation path 61, the required number of balls 5
The arm 3 of the spacer member 1B is fitted into the guide groove 62. And
As the nut 52 moves in the axial direction while rotating relative to the screw shaft 51, the ball 5 and the spacer member 1B circulate in the infinite circulation path 61. At this time, as in the examples of the rolling guide devices 10A to 10E described above, the contact of the ball 5 is prevented by the spacer 2 of the spacer member 1B, and the ball 5 is guided by the guide action of the spacer member 1B by the guide groove 62. It moves orderly in the infinite circulation path 61. As a result, the life of the ball 5 is improved, the noise is reduced, and the accuracy of guiding the nut 52 is improved.

In the ball screw device 50A,
Since the endless circulation path 61 is wound around the screw shaft 51, when a conventional connecting body is used, the connecting body may not circulate smoothly due to the twist acting on the belt. On the other hand, when the spacer member 1B is used, no twist acts between the spacer members 1B, so that the ball 5 and the spacer member 1B are smoothly circulated regardless of the degree of twist of the infinite circulation path 61. be able to.

The present invention can be used not only for forming a direction change path by attaching return pieces 57 as separate parts to both ends of the nut body 53 but also for a ball screw device for circulating balls with different structures. These examples are shown in FIGS.
Shown in In each figure, the same reference numerals are given to parts common to FIGS. 16 and 17.

FIG. 18 shows a pair (only one is shown in the figure).
The return pipes 70, 70 are mounted on the nut body 53, and an infinite circulation path is formed by a no-load rolling path 71 (see FIG. 19B) formed inside the return pipe 70 and a load rolling path 55. 72 shows a ball screw device 50 </ b> B according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

The return pipe 70 is fixed to the nut body 53 so as to jump over the load rolling groove 51a of the screw shaft 51 by several turns. The ball 5 and the spacer member 1B that have rolled on the load rolling path 55 are scooped up by one end of the return pipe 70 and roll on the no-load rolling path 71 in the return pipe 70, and the load rolling groove 51a is divided by several turns. At the position that has been moved backward, it is returned to the load rolling path 55 from the other end of the return pipe 70.

As shown in FIGS. 19B and 19C, the return pipe 70 is constituted by combining a pair of synthetic resin pipe halves 70A and 70B formed in a substantially semicircular cross section. Inside the return pipe 70, four guide grooves 73 for receiving the arms 3 of the spacer member 1B.
Are formed over the entire length of the return pipe 70. In addition, as shown in FIG.
5, a guide groove 73 is formed in the center (deepest part) of each of the load rolling grooves 51a and 53a, and a gap between the outer circumference of the screw shaft 51 and the inner circumference of the nut body 53 is formed. Using this, two guide grooves 73 are formed.
The spacer member 1B can be guided using these guide grooves 73.

FIG. 20 shows a plurality (only two are shown in the figure).
Are mounted on the nut body 53, and the no-load rolling paths 81 formed on the deflectors 80 (FIG. 2).
1 (b) and 1 (c)) and a load rolling path 55, which constitutes an infinite circulation path 82 of a ball screw device 50C according to a ninth embodiment.

The deflector 80 is configured to jump over the load rolling groove 51a of the screw shaft 51 by one turn so that the nut body 5
It is fixed to 3. The ball 5 and the spacer member 1B, which have rolled the load rolling path 55 by one turn, are deflector 80
Is rolled up by one end of the deflector 80 and rolled on the no-load rolling path 81 in the deflector 80, and returned to the load rolling path 55 from the other end side of the deflector 80 at a position which is moved back by one turn in the load rolling groove 51a. . By providing a plurality of such deflectors 80 at different positions in the circumferential direction and the axial direction of the nut 52, a plurality of endless circulation paths 82 are provided side by side in the axial direction of the nut 52.

As shown in detail in FIGS. 21 (b) and 21 (c), the no-load rolling path 81 formed in the deflector 80 is curved in a substantially S-shape, and spacers are provided at the center (deepest position) and both ends. Three guide grooves 83 for receiving the arms 3 of the member 1B are formed over the entire length of the no-load rolling path 81. Further, as shown in FIG. 21A, in the load rolling path 55, a guide groove 83 is formed at the center (deepest part) of each of the load rolling grooves 51a and 53a, and a screw shaft is formed. Two guide grooves 83 are formed by utilizing a gap between the outer periphery of 51 and the inner periphery of the nut body 53. The spacer member 1B can be guided using these guide grooves 83.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be variously modified. For example, although the spacer member 1B has been described as an example in FIGS. 11 to 20, the spacer member 1A may be used instead. 4 on one side of spacer 2
The arms 3 of the book may be formed.

[0068]

As described above, according to the spacer member and the rolling guide device of the present invention, the spacers interposed between the balls prevent the contact between the balls and the mutual friction involved. In addition to reducing the wear and noise of the ball, the arm is used to guide the ball along a fixed path of the infinite circulation path, thereby extending the infinite circulation path without meandering the ball. In this manner, the moving body can be moved in a proper direction, so that the deterioration of the guiding accuracy of the moving body due to the wobbling of the ball can be prevented. The gap between the spacer and the endless circulation path, and furthermore, the ball and the lubricant are integrally circulated by the lubricant holding portion provided in the spacer, so that the life of the ball can be reliably maintained for a long period of time. Therefore, the life of the ball can be further improved.

Since the spacer members are independent of each other in the infinite circulation path, it is not necessary to select the material of the spacer member in consideration of the bending at the turning portion of the infinite circulation path, and the degree of freedom in material selection is increased. . Therefore, by configuring the spacer member with a material having a low coefficient of friction, high wear resistance, and excellent self-lubricating properties, the running resistance of the spacer member is reduced, the ball is smoothly moved, and the wear of the spacer member is reduced. And the life can be improved. If the ball diameter is the same, a common spacer member can be used regardless of the total length of the infinite circulation path, so the versatility of the spacer member is increased, and the dies required for manufacturing the spacer member are concentrated to manufacture the spacer member. Can be reduced. The incorporation into the infinite circulation path may be a simple operation of alternately mounting the ball and the spacer member. Therefore, the labor required for assembling the rolling guide device is reduced, and the manufacturing cost of the rolling guide device is reduced.

Further, since there is no torsion between the spacer members, the degree of freedom of the layout of the infinite circulation path is high, and the spacer members can be moved smoothly even when the infinite circulation path has a large twist like a ball screw device. Can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1A and 1B are views showing a spacer member according to a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 1A is a front view, FIG. 1B is a view showing a relationship with another spacer member, and FIG.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a linear rolling guide device using the spacer member of FIG. 1 in a direction orthogonal to a track rail.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the rolling guide device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing a load rolling path and a return path in the rolling guide device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which a ball and a spacer member move along an infinite circulation path provided in the rolling guide device of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams showing a spacer member according to a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 6A is a front view, FIG. 6B is a plan view, and FIG. (D) is a perspective view.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view in a direction orthogonal to a track rail of a linear rolling guide device using the spacer member of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the rolling guide device of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view showing a load rolling path and a return path in the rolling guide device of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which a ball and a spacer member move along an infinite circulation path provided in the rolling guide device of FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a rolling guide device according to a third embodiment in which the number of infinite circulation paths is increased with respect to the rolling guide device of FIG. 7;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a rolling guide device according to a fourth embodiment in which the arrangement of an infinite circulation path is changed with respect to the rolling guide device of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a rolling guide device according to a fifth embodiment in which the arrangement of an infinite circulation path is further changed from the rolling guide device of FIG.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a sixth embodiment in which the spacer member of FIG. 6 is applied to a ball spline device.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the ball spline device of FIG. 14 in a direction orthogonal to a spline axis.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view showing a seventh embodiment in which the spacer member of FIG. 6 is applied to a ball screw device.

17 is an enlarged view of an infinite circulation path provided in the ball screw device of FIG. 16, wherein (a) is a sectional view of a loaded rolling path, and (b) is a sectional view of a no-loaded rolling path.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing an eighth embodiment in which the configuration of the infinite circulation path is changed from the ball screw device of FIG. 16;

19 is a diagram showing details of an infinite circulation path in the ball screw device of FIG. 18, (a) is a cross-sectional view of a load rolling path,
(B) is a perspective view of a return pipe constituting a no-load rolling path, and (c) is a perspective view of a half of the return pipe.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing a ninth embodiment in which the configuration of the infinite circulation path is further changed from the ball screw device of FIG. 18;

21 is a diagram showing details of an infinite circulation path in the ball screw device of FIG. 20, (a) is a cross-sectional view of a load rolling path,
(B) is a plan view of a deflector constituting a no-load rolling path,
(C) is a sectional view taken along line XXIc-XXIc in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1A, 1B Spacer member 2 Spacer 2a Concavity of spacer 2b Oil reservoir (lubricant holding part) 3 Arm 5 Ball 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, 10E Rolling guide device 11 Track rail (track member) 12 Moving body 16, 38, 55 Load rolling path 18, 40, 59 Turning path 19, 41, 60, 71, 81 No-load rolling path 20, 42, 61, 72, 82 Infinite circulation path 21, 43, 62, 73, 83 Guide groove (guide portion) 30 Ball spline device (rolling guide device) 31 Spline shaft 32, 52 Nut 50A, 50B, 50C Ball screw device (rolling guide device) 51 Screw shaft 80 Deflector

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A spacer member which is mounted in an endless circulation path of a rolling guide device so as to be alternately arranged with balls, the spacer member being interposed between adjacent balls, and a concave portion for receiving a spherical surface of the ball at a portion facing the ball. A spacer member comprising: a spacer portion provided with a portion; and at least a pair of arms extending from one side of the spacer portion so as to sandwich the ball. 2. The spacer member according to claim 1, wherein the pair of arms are provided only on one side of the spacer. 3. The pair of arms are provided on both sides of the spacer, respectively, and the arm on one side of the spacer is
2. The spacer member according to claim 1, wherein the spacer is shifted in the circumferential direction of the ball with respect to the arm on the other side of the spacer. 3. 4. The spacer member according to claim 1, wherein said ball can be held by said pair of arms. 5. The spacer member according to claim 1, wherein a lubricant holding portion is provided in the recess of the spacer. 6. A rolling guide device comprising: a track member; and a moving body movably attached to the track member via a large number of balls, wherein the ball and any one of claims 1 to 5. And a no-load rolling path formed on the moving body so as to connect a load rolling path formed between the track member and the moving body, and one end and the other end of the load rolling path. And a guide portion for guiding the arm portion of the spacer member in a direction in which the infinite circulation path extends is provided on the infinite circulation path. Rolling guide device. 7. A ball screw device, wherein the rolling guide device includes a screw shaft as the raceway member, and a nut as the moving body attached to the screw shaft via the ball so as to be relatively rotatable. The rolling guide device according to claim 6, wherein the rolling guide device is configured.