JPS6171333A - Guide apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial use! 7] The present invention relates to a guide device for guiding movable parts of equipment relative to fixed parts of the equipment.

[Prior Art] Until now, guide devices in the form of pole guides or cross roller guides have been used to linearly guide movable parts of equipment relative to fixed parts of the equipment. Such guide devices often consist of two parallel guide rails,
One rail is placed on the moving part and the other rail is placed on the fixed part. Each guide rail is provided with a longitudinal groove such that a plurality of roller elements arranged within the cage can move linearly between the two guide rails within the groove. End stops are usually provided on the guide rails to limit movement of the cage.

The use of this type of guide device is to guide the specimen clamping means in a straight line within the microtome. In this case, the second part includes the specimen clamping means prefix, while the fixing part consists of the base part of the microtome or the housing of the microtome.

In rotary microtomes, the specimen clamping means is usually guided by a guide device so that it can move vertically up and down.

There are also other types of microtomes in which the specimen clamping means are guided horizontally back and forth by a guide device. Here, even after several forward and backward movements (which can be carried out at high speeds), the cage with roller elements is not forced into a particular position on the guide rail.

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] In contrast, in a rotary microtome, the cage and roller elements are pulled downward by gravity. The downward movement of this cage and roller element depends on the number of vertical loading cycles, i.e. the number of −L downward movements of the specimen clamping means;
It also depends on the number of vertical strokes performed per unit time.

If the cage rests on the lower end stop after prolonged use, the guiding properties of the guide device are impaired. Since the best possible guiding properties are obtained only when the cage is in a central position between the end stops of the guide rail,
Normally the cage must be located in this central position.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved guide device which overcomes the above-mentioned problems.

[Means, actions, and effects for solving the problems] According to one of the features of the present invention, (1) 4'! In a guide device for guiding a movable part of a device with respect to a fixed part of a device, a first guide adapted to be provided on the movable part and a second guide adapted to be provided on the fixed part. , a bearing means disposed between the first guide and the second guide and movable relative to both guides, and a biasing means adapted to bias the bearing means toward a predetermined position. An id device is provided.

Each of the first and second guides preferably consists of a guide rail with a longitudinal groove, the guide rails of each guide being arranged substantially parallel to each other.

The bearing means preferably consist of a plurality of roller elements arranged in a roller support, said roller elements and roller support being movable linearly between guide rails.

Stop means can be provided on the guide rail to limit the movement of the roller elements and roller supports.

The biasing means preferably consist of a 9i element arranged between the roller support and the fixed part of the equipment.

A particular advantage of using an elastic member is that its spring force depends linearly on its deformation, which in turn depends on the displacement of the roller support and roller element from a given position. . Therefore, when the amount of displacement is relatively large, the return force of this elastic member becomes large. When the cola support and roller elements are thus displaced from the predetermined position, they are returned to the predetermined position by an increased return force corresponding to the increased amount of displacement from the predetermined position.

The resilient member is dimensioned such that when the bearing means is in place, the outer member is tensioned by a spring force equal to the force due to the bearing means type. This dimensioning of the elastic member has the particular advantage that the roller support and the roller elements are always biased towards a predetermined position. Therefore, when the roller support body and roller element A are at one position from the predetermined position,
Since the upwardly directed spring force is less than the rrr of the roller support and roller element, the roller support and roller element are drawn downwardly into position under the action of gravity. As the amount of displacement increases, the spring force of the elastic member decreases linearly until it becomes substantially zero at the displacement point corresponding to the upper end position of the roller support and the roller element. increases with increasing upward displacement of the body and roller elements.

Conversely, as the amount of displacement of the roller support and roller element increases below the predetermined position, the return force also increases.

This elastic member can be a tension spring. This tension spring can be arranged between the upper end area of the cage and the fixed part of the equipment, but if the tension spring is arranged between the lower end area of the roller support and the fixed part, the overall height of the guide device will be reduced. It is preferable to arrange it in this way because it will be lower.

Alternatively, the elastic element can also consist of a compression spring arranged between the upper end region of the roller support and a fixed part of the device.

However, it is preferable to use tension springs rather than compression springs because tension springs allow for more accurate spring constants than compression springs. In any case, it is important to choose the spring constant so that the spring force of the elastic member correctly matches the weight of the roller support and roller element when the roller support and roller element are in place.

Separately, when the roller support and roller element are in the uppermost position, the elastic member is relaxed and the spring corresponds to at least about twice the total weight of the roller support and roller element when in the lowermost position. The elastic member can be dimensioned to be subjected to a force. With this structure,
A predetermined location is positioned at a substantially intermediate location along the length of the guide.

In another embodiment, the resilient member can be a tension spring arranged between a stationary part of the device and an elongated element, for example a band or wire fixed to the upper end region of the roller support, and A roller is provided around which the elongated element is deflected. The arrangement for such an elastic member is 1
It is advantageous when the space available for the elastic member is relatively small. Even if the elastic member does not have enough space, the elongated element, such as a band or wire, can still have sufficient space. Certain types of elastic members, such as helical springs, require more space than is available in the area of the roller support. The deflection roller can be located at any relatively long distance from the roller support.

In another aspect, the biasing means includes a counterweight and [t
consisting of an elongated element (e.g. a band or wire) having a front end and a rear end, the rear end being fixed to the counterweight and the front end being fixed to the upper end area of the roller support;
A deflection roller is provided around which the elongated pixel is deflected.

The predetermined position is preferably adjustable. This can be achieved by providing means for adjusting the position in which the biasing means is fixed to a fixed part of the equipment.

An advantage of the guide device according to the invention is that the bearing means do not tend to move downwards under the action of gravity even after a large number of repeated up and down strokes in the vertical direction. This prevents the guide from being worn only on one side and thus preventing the guiding properties from being impaired.

In the guide device according to the invention, the predetermined position is at the center of the length of the guide such that when the bearing means is moved out of the central position, the roller support and the roller element are always biased back to the central position. (i.e. at substantially the midpoint of the guide length).

The guide device according to the invention always guarantees excellent guiding properties for guiding the movable part relative to the fixed part and is particularly effective for vertical guidance. The guide device according to the invention is suitable for use in equipment that performs a plurality of vertical duty cycles and performs a large number of strokes per unit time. Examples of such equipment are machine tools and optical devices with supports that can be moved vertically up and down.

According to another feature of the invention, a housing, specimen clamping means movable relative to the housing, a first guide disposed on the housing, a second guide disposed on the specimen clamping means, a first guide disposed on the specimen clamping means; A rotary microtome includes a bearing means disposed between a guide and a second guide and movable relative to both guides, and a biasing means configured to bias the bearing means toward a predetermined position. provided.

The first and second guides, bearing means and biasing means can be the same as in the device described above.

Generally, the guide is vertically disposed for vertical movement of the specimen clamp, and the predetermined position is ideally disposed substantially centrally along the length of the guide.

The present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGS. 1 and 2 show an apparatus forming a rotary microtome (generally designated by the numeral 8) having a stationary housing 12 and specimen clamping means 14, the specimen clamping means 14 comprising: The microtome 8 has a gross roller guide 10 that can be moved vertically with respect to the housing 12.
A guide device is provided which comprises bearing means and biasing means 28 in the form of a roller support 20 and a roller element 22.

The two cross roller guides 10 are /\Using 1
2, each cross roller guide 1 is arranged to guide the vertical movement of the specimen clamping means 14 relative to the
0 consists of two guides in the form of kite rails 16 arranged parallel to each other, each kite rail 16 being provided with a longitudinal groove 18.

The roller support 20 consists of a cage arranged between six pairs of guide rails 16 in the longitudinal direction 111118, and the roller elements 22 consist of cylindrical rollers juxtaposed within the cage 20.

One of the six pairs of guide rails 16 is fixed to the housing 12 by screws 24, and the other guide rail 16 is fixed to the specimen clamping means 14 by screws 24.

A stop means in the form of an end stop 26 is fitted onto the screw 1 in the guide rail 16 to limit the stroke of the cage 20. This end stop collar 26 also serves to assemble the guide device.

A carriage 14a (shown in phantom) is provided to hold the specimen arm and move the arm with the specimen in a direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 1.

Each cage 20 is provided with biasing means 28 for biasing the cage 20 and rollers 22 toward a predetermined position. This is a position substantially at the center of the length of the guide rail 16 where position guidance can be performed.

The biasing means 28 is comprised of a resilient member such as a tension spring, and is disposed between the roller cage 20 and the housing 12, and is biased toward the cage 2 at a predetermined position.
The dimensions are such that it can be pulled by a spring force corresponding to the total weight of the rollers 22 and 0.

This biasing means 28 is fixed to the lower end region 30 of the cage 20 and to the housing 12.

When assembling the guide device, first the gauge 20 is placed on each guide rail 16 so as to be spaced the same distance from each end stop 26.

The guide rail 1 is then connected to the specimen clamping means 14.
Each cross roller guide 10 is secured by a set screw 32 to allow the roller 22 to rotate within the vertical groove 18 during the vertical movement of 6.
Adjust so that there is some play.

A major advantage of the guide device according to the invention is that it can be integrated into existing rotary microtomes.

For this purpose, the cover plate on current microtomes can be replaced with an improved cover plate 34 having projections 36 and longitudinal slots 38. Biasing means 28 are suspended between the projection 36 of the cover plate 34 and the lower end region 30 of the cage 20. roller cage 20
The region 30 is hook-shaped as shown in FIG. It has become.

FIG. 3 shows a roller cage 20 with cylindrical rollers and a cover plate 34 with an elongated slot 38 through which the lower end region 30 of the cage 20 passes.

(Protrusion 3 to enable accurate adjustment of force means)
6 can be adjustable and lockable relative to the housing 12.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a partially sectional front view showing a rotary microtome having a kite device according to the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional plan view of the rotary microtome shown in FIG. 2 when viewed from the II force direction, and FIG. 8...Microtome, 10...Rote guide. 12...Fixed housing. 14... Specimen clamping means. 16... Guide rail, 20... Roller support. 22...Roller element. 26... End stopper. 28...Biasing means. Applicant Park, Davis & Company Agent Patent Attorney Tomomichi Kato (1 other person) Continued page Priority claim September 12, 1984 [phase] West Germany (
DE)■P3433460.2 Akira Helmut・
Vain Federal Republic of Germany 6834 Holt
ri 13 ketsuyu, égerandvee

Claims (18)

[Claims] (1) In a guide device for guiding a movable part of equipment to a fixed part of the equipment, the first guide is arranged to be provided on the movable part, and the first guide is arranged to be provided on the fixed part. a second guide; a bearing means disposed between the first guide and the second guide and movable relative to both guides; and a biasing means configured to bias the bearing means toward a predetermined position. A guide device consisting of. (2) Each of the first and second guides comprises a guide rail having a longitudinal groove, the guide rails of each guide being arranged substantially parallel to each other.
Guide device as described in section. (3) The guide device according to claim 2, wherein the bearing means comprises a plurality of roller devices arranged in a roller support, and the roller elements and the roller support are movable linearly between guide rails. . (4) The guide device according to claim 3, wherein a stop means is provided on the guide rail to restrict movement of the roller element and the roller support. (5) The guide device according to claim 3, wherein the biasing means is an elastic member disposed between the roller support and a fixed part of the device. 6. A guide device according to claim 5, wherein the resilient member is a spring sized to be tensioned with a force equal to the force due to the weight of the bearing means when the bearing means is in place. (7) The guide device according to claim 5, wherein the elastic member is a tension spring disposed between the lower end of the roller support and a fixed part of the device. (8) The elastic member is a tension spring arranged between the stationary part of the device and an elongated element fixed in the upper end area of the roller support, provided with a deflection roller, around which the deflection roller 6. A guide device as claimed in claim 5, which deflects the elongated element in a direction. (9) the biasing means consists of a counterweight and an elongated element having front and rear ends, the rear end being fixed to the counterweight and the front end to the upper end region of the roller support, and provided with a deflection roller; 4. Guide device according to claim 3, in which an elongated element is deflected around this roller. (10) A housing, a specimen clamping means movable with respect to the housing, a first guide disposed on the housing, a second guide disposed on the specimen clamping means, and a first guide and a second guide. A rotary microtome comprising a bearing means disposed between the guides and movable relative to both guides, and a biasing means configured to bias the bearing means toward a predetermined position. (11) The rotary microtome according to claim 10, wherein each of the first and second guides comprises a guide rail having a longitudinal groove, and the guide rails of each guide are arranged substantially parallel to each other. . (12) The bearing means comprises a plurality of roller elements arranged in a roller support, and the roller elements and the roller support are movable linearly between guide rails. expression microtome. (13) The rotary microtome according to claim 12, wherein a stop means is provided on the guide rail to restrict movement of the roller element and the roller support. (14) The rotary microtome according to claim 12, wherein the biasing means is an elastic member disposed within the roller support and the housing. 15. A rotary microtome according to claim 14, wherein the resilient member is a spring sized to be tensioned with a force equal to the force due to the weight of the bearing means when the bearing means is in place. (16) The rotary microtome according to claim 14, wherein the elastic member is a tension spring disposed between the lower end of the roller support and the housing. (17) The elastic member is a tension spring arranged between the housing and an elongated element fixed in the upper end area of the roller support, around which a deflection roller is provided. 15. The rotary microtome according to claim 14, which deflects an element. (18) the biasing means consists of a counterweight and an elongated element having front and rear ends, the rear end being fixed to the counterweight and the front end being fixed to the upper end region of the roller support, and provided with a deflection roller; 13. A rotary microtome as claimed in claim 12, in which an elongated element is deflected around the roller.