JP2005155798A - Linear guide device - Google Patents

Abstract

A linear guide device capable of obtaining stable movement of a roller on a direction change path and suppressing damage during scooping.
A rail having a rail raceway surface, a slider raceway surface facing the rail raceway surface, and a return path, and a saddle-like slider that reciprocates linearly on the rail; An end cap provided at the end and having a direction change path, a load path formed by the rail track surface and the slider track surface, and a circulation path connecting the load path, the direction change path, and the return path are circulated. In a linear guide device including a roller, a cage is provided that holds a roller that rolls on a load path, and a window portion that guides a side surface of the roller is provided in the cage, and the window portion is joined to a direction change path. An inclined scooping surface for scooping the rollers is provided at the part.
[Selection] Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a linear guide device that is provided in a guide portion of a machine device such as a machine tool, a manufacturing apparatus, or a measuring instrument and that moves a moving table such as a table linearly.

A linear guide device using a conventional ball as a rolling element is provided on a return path provided on a bowl-shaped slider, a direction changing path provided on an end cap, a pair of rail track surfaces provided on a side surface of the rail, and the slider. A pair of slider raceway surfaces are made to face each other to form a load path, and the slider is moved linearly by a rolling element that circulates in the circulation path formed by the return path, the direction change path, and the load path. A tongue is formed in the vicinity of the connection portion with the load path on the outer peripheral wall of the direction change path provided on the cap, and the rolling element rolling on the load path is lifted to change the circulation direction (for example, patent) Reference 1).
JP 2001-182745 A (mainly page 4, left column, FIG. 3)

  However, in the above-described conventional technology, the rolling element that has rolled on the load path is lifted up to the direction change path by the tongue portion provided on the end cap. There is a problem in that it is difficult to obtain a stable movement of the roller because the energy of the hour and the energy for turning the rolling direction of the rolling element are received only by the end cap, and the movement of the roller changes drastically.

Further, there is a problem that the tongue portion is easily damaged when the roller collides with the tongue portion.
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and provides a linear guide device that can obtain a stable movement of a roller on a direction change path and can suppress damage during scooping. For the purpose.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention includes a rail having a rail track surface, a slider track surface facing the rail track surface, and a return path, and a saddle shape that linearly reciprocates the rail. Slider, an end cap provided at the front and rear ends of the slider in the moving direction, having a direction change path, a load path formed by the rail track surface and the slider track surface, the load path and the direction change A linear guide device comprising a roller that circulates in a circulation path connecting a path and a return path, and a cage that holds a roller that rolls on the load path is provided, and a side surface of the roller is guided to the cage And a sloped scooping surface for scooping up the rollers is provided at the joint of the window with the direction change path.

  As a result, the present invention is able to disperse and receive the energy for scooping up the roller causing the roller motion change and the energy for turning the subsequent roller circulation direction on the scooping surface of the cage and the end cap. It is possible to obtain an effect that a stable movement of the roller on the direction change path can be obtained by relieving the rapid movement change of the roller.

  Embodiments of a linear guide device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 is a perspective view showing a linear guide device according to the embodiment, FIG. 2 is a right half sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a side view showing a holding piece of the embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a side view as seen from the direction of arrow B in FIG. 4, FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG. 5, FIG. 7 is a view in the direction of arrow D in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the junction part vicinity of the holder | retainer of an Example, and a direction change path.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a linear guide device.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a rail of the linear guide device 1, which is a long rod-shaped member having a substantially I-shaped cross-section made of a steel material such as an alloy steel. A plurality of stepped bolt holes 3 for fixing the rail 2 are provided at a predetermined pitch.
Reference numeral 4 denotes a track recess, which is a substantially V-shaped groove having a pair of rail track surfaces 4 a and 4 b formed along the longitudinal direction of both side surfaces of the rail 2.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a slider, which is a bowl-shaped member made of a steel material such as alloy steel and having a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional shape, and a screw hole 5a is provided on the upper surface thereof. The moving table of the mechanical device is fastened with bolts or the like.
Reference numeral 6 denotes an end cap, which is made of a metal material, a resin material, or the like, disposed at the front and rear ends of the slider 5 in the moving direction, and fastened to the slider 5 with bolts or the like.

In FIG. 2, 7 is a roller as a rolling element, which is manufactured by forming a steel material such as alloy steel into a cylindrical shape.
Reference numeral 8 denotes a holding piece, which is manufactured by a molding means such as injection molding using a resin material or the like, and circulates in order to hold the roller 7 indicated by a two-dot chain line and prevent contact between the rollers 7 as shown in FIG. A pair of guide arm portions extending in the direction connecting the centers of the rollers 7 to both sides in the axial direction of the pair of rolling element holding portions 8a, which are dug in a circular shape with a rear surface arrangement larger than the outer diameter of the rollers 7 before and after the direction. 8b.

Reference numerals 9a and 9b denote a pair of slider track surfaces, which are provided inside the slider side walls 5b of the slider 5 so as to face the rail track surfaces 4a and 4b.
A roller 7 having a holding piece 8 rolls between the opposed slider raceway surfaces 9a and 9b and the rail raceway surfaces 4a and 4b, and supports the load of the slider 5 moving on the rail 2. Paths 10a and 10b are formed.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a flange, which is provided outside the slider raceway surfaces 9a and 9b. The flange side surface orthogonal to the slider track surfaces 9a and 9b is formed to face one side surface of the roller 7 through a predetermined gap. Has been.
Reference numeral 12 denotes a cage, which is manufactured in a substantially W shape using a metal material, a resin material, or the like as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and a slider raceway surface 9 a provided on the slider side wall 5 b of the slider 5 at the center. 9b, a mountain-shaped cage pillar 14 is formed that fits into the cage fitting groove 13 that is a V-shaped groove formed in the moving direction of the slider 5.

Retainer arm portions 15a and 15b are provided on both sides of the retainer column 14, and the retainer arm portions 15a and 15b have windows for guiding the side surfaces of the rollers 7 rolling on the load paths 10a and 10b, respectively. Portions 16a and 16b are formed.
One of the guide arm portions 8b of the holding piece 8 interposed between the rolling rollers 7 guided by the window portions 16a and 16b is guided to the mounting portions of the cage arm portions 15a and 15b of the cage pillar 14. As shown in FIG. 2, the guide groove 17a that guides the other is provided with projections 18a and 18b and slider track surfaces 9a and 9b provided at the ends of the cage arm portions 15a and 15b, respectively. It is formed with the collar part 10 provided in the outer side.

The cage end portions 19 on both sides in the circulation direction of the rollers 7 of the cage 12 are locked in locking grooves provided in the end cap 6 as shown in FIG.
Reference numerals 21a and 21b denote return paths, and as shown in FIG. 2, guide arm portions of the holding piece 8 are fixed to columnar holders 22a and 22b made of a resin material that are fitted into through holes provided in the slider side wall 5b of the slider 5. It is formed as a through hole having a substantially rectangular cross section having a guide groove 23 for guiding 8b, and guides the roller 7 and the holding piece 8 that move inside these.

The joints of the end caps 6 at both ends of the holders 22a and 22b are provided with recesses and projections (not shown), and the return paths 21a and 21b are positioned so as to have a substantially rectangular cross section inclined at a predetermined angle. And locked.
Reference numerals 24a and 24b denote direction change paths provided in the end cap 6, which are curved paths having a substantially rectangular cross section for connecting the load paths 10a and 10b and the return paths 21a and 21b, respectively. In order to avoid this, a curved guide groove (not shown) for guiding the guide arm portion 8b of the holding piece 8 is formed to guide the roller 7 and the holding piece 8. And has a function of changing the direction of circulation.

  Reference numeral 25 denotes a scooping surface, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, which is inclined such as a slope formed at a joint portion between the load paths 10a and 10b and the direction change paths 24a and 24b on both sides or a substantially arc-shaped curved surface. The front edge portion 26 is provided at the end of the retainer 12 on the side of the retainer end 19 on both sides of the windows 16a and 16b, and is perpendicular to the circulation direction, that is, in the width direction of the windows 16a and 16b. 7 is formed at both corners of the front edge portion 23 with the side walls of the window portions 16a and 16b.

The scooping surface 25 has a function of smoothly rolling up the rollers 7 rolling the load paths 10a, 10b to the direction changing paths 24a, 24b as the slider 5 reciprocates, and the roller 7 is loaded from the direction changing paths 24a, 24b. It has a function of smoothly leading to the paths 10a and 10b.
The retainer 12 is configured such that the end cap 6 is fastened to the front and rear ends of the slider 5 with bolts or the like, so that the engagement groove of the end cap 6 and the retainer end 19 are engaged, and the retainer fitting groove 13 is retained. It is arranged on the slider raceway surfaces 9 a and 9 b by fitting with the tool column 14.

In this way, the cage 12 arranged in the load paths 10a and 10b guides the movement of the guide arm portion 8b of the holding piece 8 by the guide grooves 17a and 20b, and the rail raceway surface by the windows 16a and 16b. The side surface of the roller 7 that rolls between the 4a and the slider raceway surface 9a is held to prevent its falling off.
The load path 10a, the direction change path 24a of the end caps 6 on both sides thereof, and the return path 21a connecting the direction change paths 24a on both sides are connected to form a circulation path. The pieces 8 are alternately loaded, a predetermined amount of lubricant, for example, grease is sealed, and a plurality of rollers 7 are loaded in the circulation path.

And the roller 7 arrange | positioned at the load path 10a rolls between the rail track surface 4a and the slider track surface 9a, and supports the load applied to the slider 5 so that reciprocation is possible.
Such a circulation path is similarly formed on the other load path 10b and the slider side wall 5b on the opposite side of the slider 5, and the slider 5 is supported by the rail 2 so as to be capable of linear reciprocation.
The operation of the above configuration will be described.

In the following description, the circulation path formed by the load path 10a and the like will be described as an example, but the same applies to the other three circulation paths.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing the vicinity of the joint between the cage 12 and the direction changing path 24a of the present embodiment, and the roller 7 that rolls between the rail track 4a and the slider track 9a constituting the load path 10a. The state which approachs to the direction change path 24a is shown.

The roller 7 loaded with the holding piece 8 interposed in the circulation path is fitted into the rolling element holding portion 8a of the holding piece 8 before and after the circulating direction and held in the circumferential direction, and the side surface is held in the cage 12. Is guided by the window portion 16a.
In this way, the rollers 7 that are prevented from contacting each other and falling off the load path 10 a circulate in the circulation path as the slider 5 moves.

When the roller 7 rolling on the load path 10a reaches the end of the window 16a, the front edge 26 of the scooping surface 25 provided there scoops up the roller 7 and turns the roller 7 into the direction change path 14a. Lead.
At this time, the energy for scooping up the roller 7 causing the movement change of the roller 7 is received by the scooping surface 25 of the cage 12, and the energy for turning the subsequent roller 7 in the circulation direction is received by the end cap 6. The roller 7 is stopped and dispersed, and a rapid movement change of the roller 7 can be relaxed to obtain a stable movement of the roller 7 in the direction change path 24a.

Moreover, the roller 7 collides with the front edge part 26 by the R shape 27 provided in the both corners of the front edge part 26, and the stress concentration when scooping it up can be relieved and the damage can be suppressed.
The above-mentioned R shape 27 can obtain the same effect as the R shape 27 of another aspect in which the corner portion of the front edge portion 26 shown in FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 is deeply dug in an arc shape. .
As described above, in this embodiment, an inclined scooping surface that scoops up a roller at a joint portion between a window portion that guides the side surface of the roller and a direction change path of the window portion in a cage provided in the load path. It is possible to disperse and receive the energy for rolling up the roller that causes the roller motion change and the energy for turning the subsequent roller circulation direction on the scooping surface of the cage and the end cap. It is possible to relieve a rapid movement change of the roller and obtain a stable movement of the roller on the direction change path.

Further, by providing arc-shaped R shapes at both corners in the width direction of the front edge portion of the scooping surface, it is possible to relieve stress concentration when the roller is scooped up by the front edge portion and to suppress the damage. .
This is particularly effective when the slider moves at a high speed where the roller circulation speed is high.
In this embodiment, the case where the upper surface of the rail is installed in the horizontal direction has been described as an example. However, the same applies to the case where the upper surface is installed in the vertical direction, upside down, or inclined.

The perspective view which shows the linear guide apparatus of an Example. The right half sectional view of the AA section line of FIG. The side view which shows the holding piece of an Example Sectional drawing which shows the holder | retainer of an Example Side view seen from the direction of arrow B in FIG. CC sectional view of FIG. D direction arrow view of FIG. Explanatory drawing which shows the vicinity of the junction part of the holder | retainer and direction change path of an Example. Explanatory drawing which shows the other aspect of R shape of an Example Explanatory drawing which shows the other aspect of R shape of an Example Explanatory drawing which shows the other aspect of R shape of an Example

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Linear guide apparatus 2 Rail 2a Upper surface 3 Stepped bolt hole 4 Track recessed part 4a, 4b Rail track surface 5 Slider 5a Screw hole 5b Slider side wall 6 End cap 7 Roller 8 Holding piece 8a Rolling element holding part 8b Guide arm part 9a, 9b Slider raceway surface 10a, 10b Load path 11 Ridge part 12 Cage 13 Cage contact surface 14 Cage column 15a, 15b Cage arm part 16a, 16b Window part 17a, 17b, 23 Guide groove 18a, 18b Protrusion part 19 Holding End portion 21a, 21b Return path 22a, 22b Holder 24a, 25b Direction change path 25 Scrape surface 26 Front edge 27 R shape

Claims (2)

A rail having a rail track surface, a slider track surface facing the rail track surface and a return path, and a rod-shaped slider that reciprocates linearly on the rail; and front and rear ends of the slider in the moving direction Circulates through an end cap provided in the section, having a direction change path, a load path formed by the rail raceway surface and the slider raceway surface, and a circulation path connecting the load path, the direction change path, and the return path In a linear guide device having a roller,
A cage for holding the roller rolling on the load path is provided, and a window portion for guiding a side surface of the roller is provided in the cage, and the roller is scooped up at a joint portion of the window portion with the direction change path. A linear guide device provided with an inclined scooping surface. In claim 1,
A linear guide device characterized in that both corners in the width direction of the front edge portion of the scooping surface have an R shape.