JP2015190579A - Linear motion guide device - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a linear motion guide device in which the frequency of lubricant injection is low. A guide rail (2), a slider body (3a) slidably straddled on the guide rail, a rolling element that rolls between the slider body and the guide rail, and a slider body. In the linear motion guide device (100) having a return path (16a, 16b, 16c, 16d) for circulating the rolling elements, an adapter (4) fixed to the slider body and for placing an object for linear motion guidance is provided. And a lubricant supply path (32a, 32b, 32c, 32d) reaching the return path from the surface of the adapter. [Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a linear motion guide device provided with a lubricant supply mechanism.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a linear motion guide device is known as a device that supports an object that moves linearly with low friction in a transfer device, a semiconductor manufacturing device, or the like. The linear motion guide device includes, for example, a guide rail and a slider straddling the guide rail so as to be capable of relative movement in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail. End caps are provided at both ends of the tail, and a large number of rolling elements roll in a rolling path between the guide rail and the slider body while circulating in the slider, thereby Smooth relative movement is realized.

  In such a linear motion guide device, as a mechanism for supplying the lubricant to the circulation path for circulating the rolling elements, the slider has a lubricant container made of a porous member in which the lubricant is stored, and the lubricant container There is one that supplies a lubricant to rolling elements using a guide member (see Patent Document 1).

  Further, by providing a gap along the return path in the upper part of the return path formed in the slider body and accommodating the partition member for storing the lubricant in the gap, the lubricant stored in the partition member can be separated from the lubricant. Some supply lubricant to rolling elements that pass through a return path (see Patent Document 2).

JP 2006-266357 A JP 2003-172352 A

  However, the conventional linear motion guide device has a problem that the amount of lubricant to be stored is small, the lubricant must be injected frequently, and the work load is large.

  In view of such a problem, an object of the present invention is to provide a linear motion guide device in which a lubricant injection frequency is low.

In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention,
A guide rail,
A slider body slidably straddled on the guide rail;
A plurality of rolling elements that roll between the slider body and the guide rail;
In a linear motion guide device having a return path formed in the slider body and circulating the rolling elements,
An adapter that is fixed to the slider body and places an object for linear motion guidance;
A linear motion guide device having a lubricant supply path reaching the return path from the surface of the adapter is provided.

  Preferably, a part or all of the lubricant supply path is filled with a guide member.

  Preferably, the end face of the guide member is exposed in the return path.

Preferably, the guide rail is used together with a dustproof cover that prevents foreign matter from adhering to the guide rail,
The adapter is shaped to avoid interference with the dust cover.

  Preferably, a connecting pipe is attached to a boundary portion between the slider body and the adapter in the lubricant supply path.

  Preferably, an O-ring is attached to a boundary portion between the slider main body and the adapter in the lubricant supply path.

  Preferably, the guide member is a nonwoven fabric.

  Preferably, grease is used as the lubricant.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the linear motion guide apparatus with low injection | pouring frequency of a lubricant can be provided.

It is a figure which shows the end surface and cross section of the linear motion guide apparatus which concern on 1st Embodiment of this application. It is a perspective view which shows the guide rail and slider of the linear guideway which concern on 1st Embodiment of this application. It is a figure which shows the adapter of the linear guide apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this application. (A) is a perspective view, (b) is a plan view. It is a perspective view which shows the cover plate and side cover which are used with the linear guide apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this application. It is an expanded sectional view of the linear motion guide device concerning a 1st embodiment of this application. It is an expanded sectional view of the linear motion guide apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this application. It is an expanded sectional view of the linear guideway concerning a 3rd embodiment of this application. It is an expanded sectional view of the linear motion guide apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this application.

(First embodiment)
A linear motion guide device 100 according to a first embodiment of the present application will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. FIG. 1 is a view of the linear motion guide device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present application in the extending direction of the guide rail on the left side from the central broken line, and the right side in the extending direction of the guide rail from the central broken line. It is sectional drawing which shows a vertical cross section.

  The linear motion guide device 100 according to the first embodiment includes a guide rail 2, a slider 3 slidably fitted on the guide rail 2, and an adapter 4 fixed to the upper portion of the slider 3.

  FIG. 1 shows an example of a usage state of the linear motion guide device 100, where the guide rail 2 is fixed on the table 5 and the stage 6 is fixed on the adapter 4. On both sides of the slider 3, side covers 7 a and 7 b having the same length as the guide rail 2 and fixed to the stage 6 in parallel with the guide rail 2 are arranged. A cover plate 8 is disposed between the stage 6 and the adapter 4. The cover plate 8 has the same length as the guide rail 2, is disposed in parallel with the guide rail 2, and is fixed to the stage 6 at both ends (not shown). The side covers 7 a and 7 b and the cover plate 8 function as dust-proof covers to prevent foreign matters such as chips and welding spatter from adhering to the guide rail 2 and the slider 3. As a material for the side covers 7a and 7b and the cover plate, a metal plate material, plastic, ceramics, or the like can be used.

  The linear motion guide device 100 includes a large number of rolling elements 9 that roll between the guide rail 2 and the slider 3, and when the slider 3 receives an external force in the extending direction of the guide rail 2, the rolling element 9 By rolling, the slider 3, the adapter 4, and the stage 6 slide in the extending direction of the guide rail 2. The slider 3 includes return paths 16 a, 16 b, 16 c, and 16 d for circulating the rolling element 9. The rolling element 9 that rolls between the guide rail 2 and the slider 3 is located at the end of the slider 3. It reverses in the direction change path formed in the provided end caps 17a and 17b (see FIG. 2), passes through the return paths 16a, 16b, 16c and 16d, and the end cap 17a provided on the opposite end. It reverses again on the direction changing path 17 b and returns between the guide rail 2 and the slider 3. The end caps 4a and 4b are formed from resin, metal, or ceramics. As the resin, polyacetal, polyphenylene sulfide, nylon, as the metal, SUS440, SUS316, SUS316L, and as the ceramic, silicon nitride, alumina, and partially stabilized zirconia can be used.

  The linear motion guide device 100 is a lubricant that supplies a lubricant to the rolling element 9 and the return paths 16a, 16b, 16c, and 16d in order to reduce friction between the rolling element 9 and a portion where the rolling element 9 contacts and prevent wear. It has agent supply paths 32a, 32b, 32c, 32d, 32e, 32f, 32g, 32h (32e to 32h are not shown). Further, the linear motion guide device 100 has a lubricant supply path (not shown) formed in the end caps 17a and 17b.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the guide rail 2 and the slider 3 of the linear guide apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present application.

  The guide rail 2 is made of metal and has an elongated rectangular column shape, and a plurality of rail mounting holes 11 penetrating in the vertical direction are formed. The rail mounting hole 11 is used to fix the guide rail 2 to the table 5 or the like with bolts 15. The guide rail 2 has upper rolling grooves 12a and 12b and side rolling grooves 13a and 13b extending in the longitudinal direction and having a substantially arc-shaped cross section. Escape grooves are formed at the bottoms of the side rolling grooves 13a and 13b.

  The slider 3 includes a slider body 3a, end caps 17a and 17b attached to the front and rear of the slider 3, and side seals 18a and 18b attached to the slider body 3 via the end caps 17a and 17b. .

  The side seals 18 a and 18 b are made of an elastic body and are in sliding contact with the guide rail 2 to prevent foreign matter from entering between the slider body 3 and the guide rail 2. Lubricant inlets 10a and 10b (10b is not shown) are formed in the side seals 18a and 18b, respectively. The injection ports 10a and 10b are formed in the end caps 17a and 17b, and constitute a lubricant supply path together with a hole (not shown) connected to the direction changing path in the end caps 17a and 17b. Therefore, the user injects the lubricant from the inlets 10a and 10b, thereby supplying the lubricant to the direction change paths formed in the end caps 17a and 17b and the rolling elements passing through the direction change paths. be able to.

  Use lubricants such as calcium soap grease, lithium soap grease, aluminum complex grease, lithium complex grease, urea grease, bentonite grease, mineral oil, diester oil, polyvalent ester oil, silicone oil, fluorine oil, synthetic carbonized oil, etc. Can do.

  The slider body 3a is a metal member having a substantially inverted U-shape, and the upper rolling grooves 12a and 12b and the side rolling grooves 13a and 13b described above are formed on the surface facing the side surface of the guide rail 2. Rolling grooves that face each other are formed, and a plurality of rolling elements 9 (see FIG. 1) are movably interposed in the gaps formed by these facing grooves.

  On the side surface of the slider 3a, side through holes 19a, 19b, 19c, 19d, 19e, 19f, 19g, 19h (19a, 19b, 19e, and 19f are not shown) that penetrate to the return paths 16a, 16b, 16c, and 16d. ) Is formed. The side through holes 19a to 19h become a part of connection paths 35a to 35h described later, and constitute lubricant supply paths 32a to 32h connected from the surface of the adapter 4 to the return paths 16a, 16b, 16c, and 16d. Further, bolt holes 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d for fixing the adapter 4 are formed in the upper portion of the slider body 3a.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the adapter 4 of the linear motion guide device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present application. (A) is a perspective view, (b) is a plan view.

  The adapter 4 is integrally formed by casting, forging, pultrusion using a die, or the like, and the shape of the guide rail 2 viewed in the extending direction is substantially W-shaped. Are substantially the same dimensions as the slider body 3a. By using stainless steel as the material of the adapter 4, it is possible to prevent deterioration of the material in a high temperature environment, and it can be used in a high temperature environment.

  The adapter 4 includes an upper portion 21 disposed on the upper side of the slider body 3a, side portions 22a and 22b extending downward from the side portions on both sides of the upper portion 21, and an outer side from the lower portions of the side portions 22a and 22b over the entire length. Lower portions 23a and 23b extending upward and upper portions 24a and 24b extending upward from the outer portions of the lower portions 23a and 23b over the entire length. With such a shape, the adapter 4 can place an object for linear motion guidance such as the stage 6 while avoiding interference with the cover plate 8 and the side covers 7a and 7b as shown in FIG. .

  Fixing holes 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d penetrating vertically are formed in the upper portion 21. Bolts that are screwed into bolt holes 20a to 20d formed in the slider body 3a are passed through the fixing holes 21a to 21d. In addition, in the upper portion 21, in the vicinity of both end portions of the side surface substantially perpendicular to the extending direction of the guide rail 2, injection ports 21 e, 21 f for injecting the lubricant into the lubricant supply paths 32 a, 32 c, 32 e, 32 g. , 21g, 21h are formed in the extending direction of the guide rail 2. The inlets 21e, 21f, 21g and 21h (21g and 21 are not shown) constitute a part of lubricant supply paths 32a, 32c, 32e and 32g which will be described later. By providing the inlets 21e, 21f, 21g, and 21h at a position higher than the return paths 16a and 16c, the lubricant can be supplied to the return paths 16a and 16c by gravity. Further, by arranging the injection ports 21e, 21f, 21g, and 21h at a high position, the lubricant supply paths 32a, 32c, 32e, and 32g become longer, and a large amount of lubricant can be stored. Various methods can be used for injecting the lubricant. For example, a grease nipple can be attached to the injection ports 21e to 21h, and the lubricant can be injected using a grease gun.

  The side portions 22a and 22b have openings 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d, 25e, 25f, 25g, and 25h (25c to 25h are not shown) at positions facing the side through holes 19a to 19h formed in the slider body 3a. )have. The openings 25a to 25h constitute part of a lubricant supply path 32a to 32h described later. Cutout portions 26a and 26b that are cut out over the entire length in the extending direction of the guide rail 2 are formed below the side portions 22a and 22b. The notches 26a and 26b prevent interference with the side covers 7a and 7b.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, discharge holes 27a and 27b penetrating vertically are formed in the lower portions 23a and 23b, respectively. The discharge holes 27a and 27b are for dropping the foreign matter downward when removing foreign matter such as chips and weld spatter accumulated between the side plates 22a and 22b and the raised portions 24a and 24b. .

  Pin holes 29a, 29b, and 29c for press-fitting pins 28 (see FIG. 1) that are inserted into holes provided on the lower surface of the stage 6 on the upper surfaces of the raised portions 24a and 24b and prevent the stage 6 from shifting. , 29d are formed. In addition, in the upper portions of the side surfaces perpendicular to the extending direction of the guide rail 2 in the upright portions 24a and 24b, the inlets are connected to the lubricant supply passages 32b, 32d, 32f, and 32h to inject the lubricant. 30 a, 30 b, 30 c, 30 d are formed in the extending direction of the guide rail 2. The inlets 30a, 30b, 30c, and 30d constitute part of lubricant supply paths 32b, 32d, 32f, and 32h, which will be described later. By providing the inlets 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d at a position higher than the return paths 16b, 16d, the lubricant can be supplied to the return paths 16b, 16d by gravity. Further, by arranging the injection ports 30a, 30b, 30c, and 30d at a high position, the lubricant supply paths 32b, 32d, 32f, and 32h become longer, and a large amount of lubricant can be stored.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the cover plate 8 and the side covers 7a and 7b used together with the linear guide apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present application.

  The cover plate 8 has substantially the same length as the guide rail 2 and an upper plate 8a that is wider than the upper portion 21 of the adapter 4 and fits between the raised portion 24a and the raised portion 24b, and the entire length from both sides of the upper plate. And side plates 8b and 8c extending downward. The side plates 8 b and 8 c have a height that fits between the stage 6 and the lower portions 23 a and 23 b of the adapter 4.

  The side covers 7a, 7b have substantially the same length as the guide rail 2, and are extended upward from the inner ends of the lower plates 31a, 31b fixed to the table and the lower plates 31a, 31b. It consists of plates 31c and 31d. The rising plates 31 c and 31 d have a height that fits between the table 5 and the notches 26 a and 26 b formed in the adapter 4.

  FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the linear motion guide device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present application. The cross section cut | disconnected perpendicularly to the extension direction of the guide rail 2 in the position of the lubricant supply paths 32c and 32d is shown. In FIG. 5, only one side of the linear motion guide device 100 is shown and the other side is omitted. However, the linear motion guide device 100 is configured symmetrically about the one-dot chain line of FIG. 5. . Further, both the front and rear sides when the slider 3 slides have the same configuration.

  The lubricant supply path 32c for supplying the lubricant to the upper return path 16c is connected to the inlet 21f formed in the adapter 4, the vertical hole 33c extending downward from the inlet 21f, and the lower end of the vertical hole 33c, and is a guide rail. 2 extending in the extending direction, and a connecting path 35c extending obliquely downward from the horizontal hole 34c and connected to the return path 16c.

  The connecting path 35c is inclined so that the return path 16c side is lowered, thereby facilitating the flow of the lubricant. A connecting pipe 36c is accommodated in the connecting path 35c, and a guiding member 37c is filled in the connecting pipe 36c. The connecting pipe 36c and the guide member 37c extend to the return path 16c, and the tip forms a curved surface on the same cylindrical surface as the return path 16c. The connecting pipe 36 c prevents the lubricant from flowing out between the slider body 3 a and the adapter 4.

  As the material of the connecting pipe 36c, rubber, thermoplastic elastomer, or the like can be used. As the rubber, nitrile rubber, acrylic rubber, silicone rubber, fluorine rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, and styrene butadiene rubber can be used. Nitrile rubber is preferable in consideration of oil resistance, wear resistance, acid resistance, and alkali resistance. As the thermoplastic elastomer, polyolefin, styrene, vinyl chloride, polyester, polyamide, and polyurethane can be used. In view of oil resistance, wear resistance, acid resistance, and alkali resistance, a polyurethane system is preferred.

  A felt can be used as the guide member 37c. As the felt material, nonwoven fabric, wool, aramid fiber, glass fiber, cellulose fiber, nylon fiber, polyester fiber, polyether fiber, polyolefin fiber, rayon fiber, polyethylene fiber, polypropylene fiber and the like can be used. According to these materials, the lubricant can be induced by capillary action. It is particularly preferable to use polyolefin fibers such as polypropylene fibers and polyethylene fibers. Further, when the linear motion guide device 100 is used in a high temperature environment such as a welding machine, it is preferable to use methyl methacrylate, polycarbonate, polyamide, polyacetal, or polyferene eusite as the material of the guide member 37c. Among these, polyamide is preferable in order to prevent the guide member from being damaged by collision with the rolling elements.

  The lubricant supply path 32d for supplying the lubricant to the lower return path 16d is connected to the inlet 30b formed in the adapter 4, the vertical hole 33d extending downward from the inlet 30b, and the lower end of the vertical hole 33d, A horizontal hole 34d extending toward the slider body 3a and bent in the extending direction of the guide rail 2 in the side portion 22b, and a connecting path 35d extending obliquely downward from the horizontal hole 34d and connected to the return path 16d. ing.

  The connecting path 35d is inclined so that the return path 16d side is lowered, thereby facilitating the flow of the lubricant. A connecting pipe 36d is accommodated in the connecting path 35d, and a guiding member 37d is filled in the connecting pipe 36d. The connecting pipe 36d and the guide member 37d extend to the inside of the return path 16d, and the tip forms a curved surface on the same cylindrical surface as the return path 16d. The connecting pipe 36 c prevents the lubricant from flowing out between the slider body 3 a and the adapter 4.

  As a material for the connecting pipe 36d, rubber, thermoplastic elastomer, or the like can be used. As the rubber, nitrile rubber, acrylic rubber, silicone rubber, fluorine rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, and styrene butadiene rubber can be used. Nitrile rubber is preferable in consideration of oil resistance, wear resistance, acid resistance, and alkali resistance. As the thermoplastic elastomer, polyolefin, styrene, vinyl chloride, polyester, polyamide, and polyurethane can be used. In view of oil resistance, wear resistance, acid resistance, and alkali resistance, a polyurethane system is preferred.

  A felt can be used as the guide member 37d. As the felt material, nonwoven fabric, wool, aramid fiber, glass fiber, cellulose fiber, nylon fiber, polyester fiber, polyether fiber, polyolefin fiber, rayon fiber, polyethylene fiber, polypropylene fiber and the like can be used. According to these materials, the lubricant can be induced by capillary action. It is particularly preferable to use polyolefin fibers such as polypropylene fibers and polyethylene fibers. Further, when the linear motion guide device 100 is used in a high temperature environment such as a welding machine, it is preferable to use methyl methacrylate, polycarbonate, polyamide, polyacetal, or polyferene eusite as the material of the guide member 37d. Among these, polyamide is preferable in order to prevent the guide member from being damaged by collision with the rolling elements.

  According to the lubricant supply passages 32c and 32d configured as described above, the lubricant injected from the injection ports 21f and 30b is accumulated in the vertical holes 33c and 33d and the horizontal holes 34c and 34d, and the weight of the lubricant is reduced. The guide members 37c and 37d are soaked by the guide action of the guide members 37c and 37d. The lubricant soaked into the guide members 37c and 37d is applied to the rolling elements 9 by contact between the guide members 37c and 37d and the rolling elements. The applied lubricant is sequentially supplied to the guide members 37c and 37d from the vertical holes 33c and 33d and the horizontal holes 34c and 34d.

  As described above, the lubricant supply paths 32c and 32d not only guide the lubricant from the inlets 21f and 30b to the return paths 16c and 16d, but also store the lubricant inside so that the user can make the lubricant. The frequency of injecting can be reduced. The injection frequency varies depending on the amount of lubricant stored. The amount of lubricant stored can be increased or decreased by changing the length of the lateral holes 34c, 34d in the extending direction of the guide rail 2. Further, according to the lubricant supply passages 32c and 32d, the guide member 37 contacts the rolling elements 9 and applies the lubricant, so that the lubricant can be supplied reliably, while the lubricant is injected. Lubricant can be prevented from being excessively supplied at a time, and the frequency of lubricant injection can be further reduced. Furthermore, since the lubricant can be injected without removing the adapter 4, the burden of the injection work is small. In addition, since foreign matters such as spatter are hardly mixed in the lubricant during the injection operation, it is possible to prevent damage such as peeling of the rolling surface due to the inclusion of foreign matters.

(Second Embodiment)
A linear motion guide device 200 according to a second embodiment of the present application will be described with reference to FIG. The linear motion guide device 200 according to the second embodiment is different from the linear motion guide device 100 according to the first embodiment only in the configuration of the lubricant supply path, and the other configurations are the same as the linear motion guide device 100. Therefore, overlapping description is omitted, and the lubricant supply path of the linear motion guide device 200 according to the second embodiment will be described below.

  FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the linear guide device 200 according to the second embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 5 of the first embodiment. FIG. 6 shows only one side of the linear motion guide device 200 and omits the other side, but the linear motion guide device 200 is configured symmetrically about the one-dot chain line of FIG. Moreover, the both sides which become front and back at the time of sliding are mutually the same structure.

  The lubricant supply path 232c for supplying the lubricant to the upper return path 216c is connected to the inlet 221f formed in the adapter 4, the vertical hole 233c extending downward from the inlet 221f, and the lower end of the vertical hole 233c. 202 includes a horizontal hole 234c extending in the extending direction, and a connecting path 235c extending obliquely downward from the horizontal hole 234c and connected to the return path 216c.

  A connecting pipe 236c is accommodated in the connecting path 235c, and a guiding member 237c is filled in the connecting pipe 236c. The connecting pipe 236c and the guide member 237c extend to the front of the return path 216c. The connecting pipe 236c prevents the lubricant from flowing out between the slider body 203a and the adapter 204.

  The material of the connection pipe 236c and the material of the guide member 237c are the same as those of the connection pipe 36c and the guide member 37c according to the first embodiment described above, respectively.

  The lubricant supply path 232d for supplying the lubricant to the lower return path 216d is constituted by a vertical hole penetrating from the lower part of the return path 216c to the upper part of the return path 216d.

  According to the lubricant supply paths 232c and 232d according to the second embodiment configured as described above, the lubricant injected from the injection port 221f is accumulated in the vertical holes 233c and the horizontal holes 234c, The guide member 237c penetrates due to its own weight and the guide action of the guide member 237c. The lubricant soaked into the guide members 237c and 237d oozes out from the end of the guide member 237c on the return path 216c side, and lubricates the return path 216c and the rolling elements passing through the return path 216c. The lubricant that has oozed into the return path 216c flows from the lubricant supply path 232d to the return path 216d by gravity, and lubricates the return path 216d and the rolling element 209 that passes through the return path 216d. The lubricant exuded from the guide member 237c is sequentially supplied to the guide member 237c from the vertical hole 233c and the horizontal hole 234c.

  According to the second embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained. In addition, according to the second embodiment, the number of places where the lubricant is injected is smaller than that in the first embodiment, so that the burden of the lubricant injection operation can be reduced.

(Third embodiment)
A linear motion guide device 300 according to a third embodiment of the present application will be described with reference to FIG. The linear motion guide device 300 according to the third embodiment is different from the linear motion guide device 100 according to the first embodiment only in the configuration of the lubricant supply path, and the other configurations are the same as the linear motion guide device 100. Therefore, redundant description is omitted, and the lubricant supply path of the linear motion guide device 300 according to the third embodiment will be described below.

  FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the linear guide apparatus 300 according to the third embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 5 of the first embodiment. FIG. 7 shows only one side of the linear motion guide device 300 and omits the other side, but the linear motion guide device 300 is configured symmetrically about the one-dot chain line of FIG. Moreover, the both sides which become front and back at the time of sliding are mutually the same structure.

  The lubricant supply path 332c for supplying the lubricant to the upper return path 316c includes an inlet 321e formed at the center of the side surface of the upper portion 321 of the adapter 4, and a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the guide rail 302 from the inlet. And a connecting path 335c extending downward from the end of the horizontal hole 334c. The horizontal hole 334c is connected to a horizontal hole 334a (not shown) formed in the left part of FIG. 7 (not shown), and the injection port 321e is also used as a common injection port for the horizontal hole 334a and the horizontal hole 334c. Yes.

  An O-ring 338c is attached to a boundary portion between the adapter 304 and the slider body 303a in the connection path 335c. The O-ring 338c prevents the lubricant from flowing out between the slider body 303a and the adapter 304.

  The lubricant supply path 332c is filled with a guide member 337c over the entire length.

  The material of the O-ring 338c and the material of the guide member 337c are the same as those of the connection pipe 36c and the guide member 37c according to the first embodiment described above, respectively.

  The lubricant supply path 332d for supplying the lubricant to the lower return path 316d is connected to the inlet 330b formed in the adapter 304, the vertical hole 333d extending downward from the inlet 330b, and the lower end of the vertical hole 333d, A horizontal hole 334d that extends toward the slider body 3a and is bent in the extending direction of the guide rail 2 along the way, and a connecting path 335d that extends obliquely downward from the horizontal hole 334d and is connected to the return path 316d.

  An O-ring 338d is attached to the boundary between the adapter 304 and the slider body 303a in the connecting path 335d. The O-ring 338d prevents the lubricant from flowing out between the slider body 303a and the adapter 304.

  The lubricant supply path 333d is filled with a guide member 337d over the entire length.

  The material of the O-ring 338d and the material of the guiding member 337d are the same as those of the connecting pipe 36c and the guiding member 37c according to the first embodiment described above, respectively.

  According to the lubricant supply path 332c described above, the lubricant injected from the injection port 321e is accumulated in the lateral hole 334c and the connection path 335c, and the return path 316c is generated by the self-weight of the lubricant and the guiding action of the guide member 337c. It is applied to the rolling element 309 that passes through. As for the applied lubricant, the lubricant accumulated in the lubricant supply path 332c is replenished to the contact points with the rolling elements 309 sequentially. Further, according to the lubricant supply path 332d, the lubricant injected from the injection port 330b accumulates in the vertical hole 333d and the horizontal hole 334d, and the return path 316d by the self-weight of the lubricant and the guiding action of the guide member 337d. It is applied to the rolling element 309 that passes through.

  According to the third embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

(Fourth embodiment)
A linear motion guide device 400 according to a fourth embodiment of the present application will be described with reference to FIG. The linear motion guide device 400 according to the fourth embodiment is different from the linear motion guide device 100 according to the first embodiment only in the configuration of the lubricant supply path, and the other configurations are the same as the linear motion guide device 100. Therefore, overlapping description is omitted, and the lubricant supply path of the linear motion guide device 400 according to the fourth embodiment will be described below.

  FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the linear motion guide device 400 according to the fourth embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 5 of the first embodiment. FIG. 8 shows only one side of the linear motion guide device 400 and omits the other side, but the linear motion guide device 400 is configured symmetrically about the one-dot chain line of FIG. Moreover, the both sides which become front and back at the time of sliding are mutually the same structure.

  The lubricant supply path 432c for supplying the lubricant to the upper return path 416c includes an inlet 421e formed at the center of the side surface of the upper portion 421 of the adapter 404, and a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the guide rail 402 from the inlet 421e. It is comprised from the horizontal hole 434c extended in the direction, and the connection path 435c extended below from the edge part of this horizontal hole 434c. The horizontal hole 434c is connected to a horizontal hole 434a (not shown) formed on the left side of FIG. 8 (not shown), and the injection port 421e is also used as a common injection port for the horizontal hole 434a and the horizontal hole 434c. Yes.

  An O-ring 438c is attached to the boundary between the adapter 404 and the slider body 403a in the connection path 435c. The O-ring 438c prevents the lubricant from flowing out between the slider body 403a and the adapter 404.

  The material of the O-ring 438c is the same as that of the connecting pipe 36c according to the first embodiment described above.

  The lubricant supply path 432d for supplying the lubricant to the lower return path 416d is connected to the injection port 430b formed in the adapter 404, the vertical hole 433d extending downward from the injection port 430b, and the lower end of the vertical hole 433d, A horizontal hole 434d that extends toward the slider body 403a and is bent in the extending direction of the guide rail 402 in the middle, and a connecting path 435d that extends obliquely downward from the horizontal hole 434d and is connected to the return path 416d.

  An O-ring 438d is attached to the boundary between the adapter 404 and the slider body 403a in the connection path 435d. The O-ring 438d prevents the lubricant from flowing out between the slider body 403a and the adapter 404.

  The material of the O-ring 438d is the same as the material of the connection pipe 36c according to the first embodiment described above.

  According to the lubricant supply paths 432c and 432d configured as described above, the lubricant is supplied to the lubricant supply paths 432c and 432d by injecting a lubricant having appropriate fluidity from the injection ports 421e and 430b. It collects inside and is supplied to the return paths 416c and 416d and lubricates the return paths 416c and 416d and the rolling elements 409 passing through the return paths 416c and 416d. For example, grease having lower fluidity (consistency) than the lubricant used in the first to third embodiments can be used. As the grease, it is preferable to use heat-resistant lithium grease or diurea grease. The lubricant supply paths 432c and 432d not only guide the lubricant from the inlets 421e and 430b to the return paths 416c and 416d, but also store the lubricant in the interior so that the frequency at which the user injects the lubricant. Can be lowered. Further, since the lubricant can be injected without removing the adapter 404, the burden of the injection work is small. Furthermore, since foreign matters such as spatter are hardly mixed in the lubricant during the injection operation, it is possible to prevent damage such as peeling of the rolling surface due to the inclusion of foreign matters.

  As described above, specific embodiments have been described for the purpose of describing the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications and improvements can be made.

  For example, the route of the lubricant supply path can be changed as appropriate according to the application of the linear motion guide device. For example, the position of the inlet formed in the upright portion is not limited to a plane perpendicular to the extending direction of the guide rail, but may be formed on an outer side surface parallel to the guide rail.

  In addition, the presence / absence of the guide member and the attachment of the connecting pipe or the O-ring can be appropriately selected according to the application.

  The lubricant supply path can be applied to a linear motion guide device using cylindrical rollers in addition to the configuration using balls as rolling elements as in the above embodiment.

  The linear motion guide device of the present application is not limited to use with a cover plate and a side cover as shown in FIG. 1, but is a linear motion guide device alone, a combination of a linear motion guide device and a cover plate, a linear motion guide device and a side cover. And a combination of the linear motion guide device and other elements can be used.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a linear motion guide device with a low supply frequency of a lubricant.

2, 202, 302, 402 Guide rail 3 Slider 3a, 203a, 303a, 403a Slider body 4, 204, 304, 404 Adapter 5 Table 6 Stage 7a, 7b Side cover 8 Cover plate 9, 209, 309, 409 Rolling element 10a 10b Inlet 11 Rail mounting holes 12a, 12b Upper rolling grooves 13a, 13b Side rolling grooves 15 Bolts 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d Return paths 17a, 17b End caps 18a, 18b Side seals 19c, 19d, 19g, 19h Side through-holes 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d Bolt holes 21, 221, 321, 421 Upper 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d Fixing holes 21e, 21f, 21g, 21h Inlet 22a, 22b, 222b, 322b, 422b Side portions 23a, 23b, 23b, 323b, 323b Lower part 24a, 24b, 224b, 324b, 424b Upright part 25a, 25b Opening part 26a, 26b Notch part 27a, 27b Ejection hole 28 Pin 29a, 29b, 29c, 29d Pin hole 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d Inlet 31a, 31b Lower plate 31c, 31d Upright plate 32a, 32b, 32c, 32d, 232c, 332c, 332d, 432c, 432d Lubricant supply passage 33c, 233c, 333c, 433c, 33d, 333d, 433d Vertical hole 34c 234c, 334c, 434c, 34d, 334d, 434d Side hole 35c, 235c, 335c, 435c Connection path 36c, 36d, 236c Connection pipe 37c, 237c, 337c, 337d Guide members 338c, 438c, 338d, 438d O-ring 100 200, 300, 400 linear guide apparatus

Claims (8)

A guide rail,
A slider body slidably straddled on the guide rail;
A plurality of rolling elements that roll between the slider body and the guide rail;
In a linear motion guide device having a return path formed in the slider body and circulating the rolling elements,
An adapter that is fixed to the slider body and places an object for linear motion guidance;
A linear motion guide device having a lubricant supply path reaching the return path from the surface of the adapter.   The linear motion guide device according to claim 1, wherein a part or all of the lubricant supply path is filled with a guide member.   The linear motion guide device according to claim 1, wherein an end surface of the guide member is exposed in the return path. Used with a dust cover to prevent foreign matter from adhering to the guide rail,
The linear motion guide device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the adapter has a shape that avoids interference with the dust cover.   5. The linear motion guide device according to claim 1, wherein a rubber tube is attached to a boundary portion between the slider main body and the adapter in the lubricant supply path.   5. The linear motion guide device according to claim 1, wherein an O-ring is attached to a boundary portion between the slider main body and the adapter in the lubricant supply path.   The linear motion guide device according to claim 2, wherein the guide member is a non-woven fabric.   The linear motion guide device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein grease is used as the lubricant.

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