WO2023025574A1

WO2023025574A1 - Method for producing a rolling body cage containing rolling bodies, pull-out guide and construction kit

Info

Publication number: WO2023025574A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/072141
Authority: WO
Inventors: Patrick Freiheit; Stefan WASCHK; Rouven Kummer; Florian Degener
Original assignee: Druck- Und Spritzgusswerk Hettich GmbH & Co. KG
Priority date: 2021-08-23
Filing date: 2022-08-05
Publication date: 2023-03-02
Also published as: DE102021121805A1; CN117836526A

Abstract

A method for producing a rolling body cage (1) containing rolling bodies (7, 8) for pull-out guides (24) comprises the following steps: injection moulding a strip-like main body (2) and at least one holder (3, 4) containing at least one rolling body (7, 8); pivoting the at least one holder (3, 4) containing the at least one rolling body (7, 8) relative to the strip-like main body (2), so that the at least one rolling body (7, 8) is at least partially inserted into a receiving pocket (10) in the main body (2), and releasing the at least one rolling body (7, 8) from the at least one holder (3, 4) by cutting at least one connecting web (15), so that the at least one rolling body (7, 8) is held such that it can rotate in the receiving pocket (10) in the main body (2). The invention also relates to a pull-out guide (24) and to a construction kit for producing a rolling body cage.

Description

Process for manufacturing a rolling element cage with rolling elements, pull-out guide and kit

The present invention relates to a method for producing a rolling element cage with rolling elements, a pull-out guide and a kit for producing a rolling element cage with rolling elements.

EP 2 356 347 B1 discloses a rolling element cage for a pull-out guide, in which side walls are flexibly connected to one another along at least one longitudinal edge and latching means are provided with which the side walls can be latched in the end position. As a result, the rolling element cage can be produced effectively, since the rolling elements are inserted into the receptacles on the rolling element cage after the production of the rolling element cage and the side walls are bent over in order to then mount the unit consisting of the rolling element cage and rolling elements on a pull-out guide. The method has proven itself, but requires production in several steps and additional feeding of the rolling elements during the production of the rolling element cage.

Instead of spherical rolling bodies, cylindrical rolling bodies can also be used in a rolling body cage, as disclosed in DE 10 2017 128 752, for example.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide an improved method for producing a rolling element cage, a pull-out guide and a kit which enable effective production of the rolling element cage with rolling elements.

This object is achieved with a method according to claim 1, a pull-out guide according to claim 10 and a kit with the features of claim 12.

In the method according to the invention, a strip-shaped base body and at least one holder with at least one rolling body is injection molded, ie produced in one piece by injection molding, in which case the at least one holder with the at least one rolling body relative to the strip-shaped Base body is pivoted, so that the at least one rolling element is at least partially inserted into a receiving pocket on the base body. The at least one rolling body is then detached from the holder by separating at least one connecting web, so that the at least one rolling body is then rotatably held in the receiving pocket on the base body. This enables a very efficient production of the roller body cage with the roller bodies, since it is initially produced in one piece and the roller bodies are also formed integrally. This prevents accidental loss of a rolling element during assembly. The rolling elements and the rolling element cage can be produced from one or more components, for example plastics or metals, in an injection molding process.

The at least one connecting web on the holder is preferably designed as a predetermined breaking point, which is severed when a predetermined force is exceeded. This ensures that the rolling element is torn off at a predetermined point, it being possible for each rolling element to be connected to the holder via one or more connecting webs.

For easy assembly, the at least one holder can be fixed when swiveling on the base body. This ensures exact positioning of the holder on the base body.

According to one embodiment, a bearing receptacle can be formed on opposite sides of each receiving pocket, into which a bearing pin on a rolling element is inserted when the at least one rolling element is released from the holder. The rolling body can then be rotatably held in the receiving pocket with the two bearing pins. The bearing mounts form part of the receiving pocket or form the receiving pocket.

The holder on the bearing pin of the at least one rolling body is preferably connected to the latter via a connecting web and is formed integrally. This allows the at least one rolling body to be severed from the holder by applying a force perpendicular to an axial direction of the rolling body.

According to a preferred embodiment, the rolling element cage has a

Body on which two or more holders each with during injection molding at least one rolling body are integrally formed. In particular, two holders can be provided, which are arranged on opposite sides of the base body in the mounted position. Optionally, more than two holders can also be formed integrally with the base body, with at least one rolling body being formed on each holder. If the holder is designed in the form of a frame, a plurality of rolling elements can be produced simultaneously within the frame during injection molding.

In the method, the at least one rolling body is preferably released only after the base body has been slid onto a rail of a pull-out guide. This allows the roller retainer to be assembled with the rollers as a unit, and only after the roller retainer has been arranged on the rail can the rollers be separated from the holder, for example by pressing the rollers in the direction of a running surface of a rail. This avoids accidentally losing a rolling element during assembly.

In the pull-out guide according to the invention, a rolling element cage is used which is produced using the method according to the invention, the pull-out guide having at least two rails which can be moved relative to one another and which can be moved relative to one another via the rolling elements. The pull-out guide can preferably be fitted without tools.

In a kit according to the invention for producing a rolling element cage with rolling elements, a strip-shaped base body is formed integrally with at least one holder and at least one rolling element. The one-piece kit can then be processed by appropriate assembly steps to form a rolling element cage, in which the rolling elements are rotatably held on receiving pockets of the base body. The at least one rolling body is connected to the holder via at least one predetermined breaking point, so that simply cutting through the predetermined breaking point is sufficient for assembly. The kit can preferably be assembled without tools, ie by hand. In the case of the kit, the at least one rolling body can be made of the same or a different component, for example made of plastics, as the holder and/or the base body. Different components are optionally used, for example a harder plastic, such as POM, is used for the rolling elements than for the base body or the holder. The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

FIGS. 1A to 1F show several views of a rolling element cage according to the invention with rolling elements;

Figures 2A to 2D several views during assembly of the roller cage, and

Figures 3A to 3E several views of the assembly of a rolling element cage according to the invention on a pull-out guide.

A rolling element cage 1 comprises a strip-shaped base body 2 on which two holders 3 and 4 are integrally formed. The holder 3 is connected to the base body 2 via at least one film hinge 5 and can be pivoted relative to the base body 2 for assembly. In a similar way, the holder 4 is formed integrally with the strip-shaped base body 2 via at least one film hinge 6 .

The holder 3 is formed into a frame shape, and a plurality of rolling elements 7 formed integrally with the holder 3 are arranged inside the frame. In the illustrated embodiment, four rolling elements 7 are formed on the holder 3, the number of rolling elements 7 on the holder 3 being variable. The holder 4 is also designed in the shape of a frame and surrounds four integrally designed rolling elements 8.

The rolling bodies 7 and 8 are cylindrical, but can also have a different geometry, for example, be barrel-shaped or spherical.

The base body 2 is strip-shaped and includes a plurality of receiving pockets 10 for the rolling elements 7 and 8. The receiving pockets 10 are arranged on opposite sides of the base body 2 and have different sizes in this exemplary embodiment, since the rolling elements 7 and 8 are also different own greatness. However, it is also possible to use rolling bodies 7 and 8 of the same size, which are then inserted into receiving pockets 10 of the same size. FIG. 1E shows the receiving pockets 10 in detail, which each have a bearing mount 11 and 12 on opposite end faces. The bearing mount 11 is pocket-shaped, while the bearing mount 12 is continuous on a wall of the base body. It can also be seen that a plurality of sliding projections 13 are provided on the base body 2, which ensure that the rolling element cage is positioned within a drawer slide and, for example, position it centrally between two rails of a drawer slide, or sliding on a third or fourth surface of a drawer slide is possible make.

FIG. 1F shows the connection of a rolling element 7 to the holder 3. The rolling body 7 includes a cylindrical bearing pin 14 which can be inserted into one of the bearing seats 11 or 12 . A connecting web 15 is integrally formed on the bearing pin 14 and serves as a predetermined breaking point and ensures that the rolling element 7 can be separated from the holder 3 . The rolling bodies 8 are fastened to the holder 4 in the same way. The diameter of the bearing pin 14 can be adjusted according to the necessary loads and recordings 11 and 12. Likewise, the strength of the connecting web 15 can be adjusted so that accidental loosening of one of the rolling elements 7, 8 is avoided.

In the figures 2A to 2D the assembly of the one-piece rolling element cage 1 is shown. The rolling element cage 1 produced in one piece according to Figures 1A to 1F is deformed in a first step in that the holder 3 is pivoted relative to the base body 2 via the at least one film hinge 5, in particular the two film hinges 5 formed at opposite ends of the holder 3 . In a similar way, the holder 4 is pivoted about the at least one film hinge 6, as shown in FIG. 2A.

The holder 3 is pivoted onto the base body 2 and locked there via locking webs 9 (FIG. 1E), which are integrally formed on the base body 2 or the holder 3. The holder 4 is rusted to the base body 2 in a similar way, but on the opposite side to the holder 3. Optionally, another mechanism can also be used to fix the holder 3 or 4 to the base body, for example clamping elements in order to fix the holder 3 and 4 on the base body 2 to ensure. In FIG. 2C, the holders 3 and 4 are folded onto the base body 2, and an angular slot 20 can be seen, into which part of a rail 16 of a pull-out guide 24 can be inserted. The rolling bodies 7 and 8 are still fixed to the holder 3 or 4 and can now be separated from the holder 3 or 4 by a force, as is shown schematically by the arrows pointing up and down, respectively. In FIG. 2D, the rolling elements 7 and 8 have been pressed in the direction of the base body 2 and inserted into the receiving pockets 10 so that the bearing pins 14 on the rolling elements 7 and 8 are inserted into the bearing receptacles 11 and 12. The rolling bodies 7 and 8 protrude outwards from the base body 2 on opposite sides. On the other two sides, the sliding surfaces 13 prevent a rail from hitting the base body 2.

The assembly of the rolling body cage 1 on a pull-out guide 24 is shown in Figures 3A to 3E. In a first step, the pre-assembled rolling element cage 1, the holders 3 and 4 are already pivoted and clipped in according to Figures 2A and 2B, is placed with the strip-shaped base body 2 on a stationary rail 16 on an angled section 17, with the angled section 17 in the vertical part of the angular slot 20 of the base body 2 is inserted.

According to FIG. 3B, the rolling element cage 1 is now rotated about its longitudinal axis, so that the rolling elements 7 and 8 are arranged on an upper and lower side of a raceway on the angular section 17, but still at a distance.

The rolling bodies are now pressed in perpendicularly to the axial direction towards the base body 2, as shown in detail in FIGS. 2C and 2D, so that the rolling bodies 7 and 8 can roll along the track on the angled section 17. The rolling elements 7 and 8 can be detached from the holders 3 and 4 manually before the rail 18 has been pushed on, or in the assembled state by loading the rail 18.

After the assembly of the rolling body cage 1, a second movable rail 18 can now be pushed onto the rolling body cage 1 and the stationary rail 16. The rail 18 comprises an opening 19 into which a fastening means 21 in the form of a web can be inserted around the movable rail 18 against removal from the stationary rail 16. The fastening means 21 can rest as a stop on an end face of the rolling element cage 1 in an end position. A projection 22 is also formed or mounted on the fastening means 21, which acts as an activator and can be brought into engagement with a self-closing mechanism 23, which has a movable driver which can be moved between two end positions via the activator. Instead of the self-closing mechanism 23, an ejection device can also be actuated via the activator, in which case a movable furniture part can be evaluated from a closed position in the opening direction.

The drawer slide can be used for furniture, household appliances, vehicle consoles or other uses.

Reference List

1 rolling element cage

2 basic bodies

3 holders

4 holders

5 film hinge

6 film hinge

7 rolling elements

8 rolling elements

9 locking bar

10 receiving pocket

11 bearing mount

12 bearing mount

13 slide projection

14 bearing pin

15 connecting bridge

16 rail

17 angular section

18 rail

19 opening

20 slot

21 fasteners

22 projection

23 self-closing

24 drawer slide

Claims

9 claims

1 . Method for producing a rolling element cage (1) with rolling elements (7, 8) for pull-out guides (24), with the following steps:

- Injection molding of a strip-shaped base body (2) and at least one holder (3, 4) with at least one rolling element (7, 8);

- Pivoting the at least one holder (3, 4) with the at least one rolling element (7, 8) relative to the strip-shaped base body (2), so that the at least one rolling element (7, 8) at least partially fits into a receiving pocket (10). the base body (2) is inserted, and

- Detaching the at least one rolling element (7, 8) from the holder (3, 4) by separating at least one connecting web (15), so that the at least one rolling element (7, 8) can be rotated in the receiving pocket (10) on the base body (2) is held.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one connecting web (15) is designed as a predetermined breaking point which is severed when a predetermined force is exceeded.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one holder (3, 4) is constantly ver during pivoting on the base body (2).

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that bearing receptacles (11, 12) are formed on opposite sides of each receiving pocket (10), into which a bearing pin (14) on a rolling element (7, 8) when loosening the at least a rolling element (7, 8) from the holder (3, 4) is inserted.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holder (3, 4) on the bearing pin (14) of the at least one rolling body (7, 8) is integrally formed.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one holder (3, 4) is formed in the shape of a tube.

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rolling element cage (1) has a base body (2), on which two holders (3, 4), each with at least one rolling body (7, 8), are integrally formed during injection molding.

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on each holder (3, 4) a plurality of rolling elements (7, 8) are integrally formed.

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the release of the at least one rolling body (7, 8) after sliding the base body (2) onto a rail (16) of a pull-out guide (24).

10. Pull-out guide (24) with at least two rails (16, 18) movable relative to one another and a roller cage (1) produced by a method according to one of the preceding claims.

11. Pull-out guide (24) according to claim 10, characterized in that the pull-out guide (24) can be mounted without tools.

12. Kit for producing a rolling element (1) with rolling elements (7, 8), characterized in that a strip-shaped base body (2) is formed integrally with at least one holder (3, 4) and at least one rolling element (7, 8).

13. Kit according to claim 12, characterized in that the at least one rolling body (7, 8) is connected via at least one connecting web (15) designed as a predetermined breaking point with the at least one holder (3, 4).

14. Kit according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the at least one rolling body (7, 8) is made of the same or a different component as the at least one holder (3, 4) and the base body (2).

15. Kit according to one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the rolling element (1) can be mounted without tools.