JP2017214980A - Rolling device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a rolling device excellent in operability while preventing increase in the size.SOLUTION: A rolling device 100 includes a first member 1, a second member 2, rolling elements 5 arranged between the first member 1 and the second member 2, the second member 2 being movable along the first member 1 with the rolling of the rolling elements 5. The rolling device 100 further includes a rolling path for the rolling elements 5, consisting of a rolling groove 1a formed in the first member 1 and a rolling groove 3a formed in the second member 2 in opposition to the rolling groove 1a of the first member 1, and a circuit provided in the second member 2 in communication with the rolling path for circulating the rolling elements 5, the circuit consisting of a return path 3b formed in the second member 2, and a direction change path 6 formed in a direction change member 7 of the second member 2 to communicate the return path 3b with the rolling path. An elastic member 9 made of metal is arranged in the return path 3b. A longitudinal end of the elastic member 9 engages with the direction change member 7.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a rolling device.

  Conventionally, a linear motion guide device (linear guide device) having a linear guide rail, a curved motion guide device having a curved guide rail, and a ball screw device are known as rolling devices.

  Among rolling devices, for example, a linear motion guide device connects a rolling path of a rolling element including a rolling groove provided on a guide rail and a rolling groove provided on a slider body, and a starting point and an end point of the rolling path. Thus, a circulation path for circulating the rolling elements is provided. The circulation path includes a return path (straight line portion) provided in the slider body and a direction changing path (curved portion) provided in the end cap.

  In such a linear motion guide device, when the slider travels, the rolling elements in the circulation path are pushed by the rear rolling elements and roll, so there is no gap between the rolling elements. And, due to the influence of the curved portion of the circulation path, the amount of movement of the rolling element entering the circulation path from the rolling path (referred to as “inlet-side rolling element”) and the rolling element exiting from the circulation path to the rolling path (“exit-side rolling element”) Are not always the same. For example, when the amount of movement of the inlet-side rolling element exceeds the amount of movement of the outlet-side rolling element, the rolling element in the circulation path becomes over-packed, and the outlet-side rolling element that has lost its escape area due to the pressing of the rolling elements Is going to the rolling path while sliding on the circulation path, so-called ball sliding. At this time, since the frictional force between the rolling element and the circulation path suddenly increases, the operability of the linear motion guide device is deteriorated, or the circulation path and the rolling element are damaged, resulting in failure of the linear motion guide device. There is a fear.

  Under such a background, a linear sleeve that can be elastically deformed is arranged in the linear portion of the circulation path, that is, the return path of the slider body, thereby eliminating the pressing of the rolling elements and improving the operability. A guide device has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent No. 3702012

  However, in the conventional linear motion guide device as described above, if a sleeve made of rubber or resin is used, oil resistance, wear resistance, and durability are low, so the sleeve is broken and the fragments break into the circulation path or rolling path. There is a problem in that the operability of the linear motion guide device deteriorates or breaks down when it enters.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a rolling device with good operability and a long life.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention
A first member; a second member; and a rolling element disposed between the first member and the second member. The second member is moved along the first member by rolling of the rolling element. In a movable rolling device,
A rolling path of the rolling element comprising a rolling groove formed in the first member and a rolling groove formed in the second member so as to face the rolling groove of the first member, and the second member And a circulation path that communicates with the rolling path and circulates the rolling elements,
The circulation path includes a return path formed in the second member, and a direction change path formed in a direction changing member provided in the second member and communicating the return path and the rolling path. ,
An elastic member made of metal is disposed in the return path,
A rolling device is provided in which a longitudinal end portion of the elastic member is engaged with the direction changing member.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a rolling device having good operability and extending the life.

FIG. 1 is a view showing a linear motion guide device which is a rolling device according to the first to third embodiments. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the end cap in the first and second embodiments. FIG. 3 is a view showing a state of the slider main body, the return guide, and the elastic member in the linear motion guide device of the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view (4A-4A cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 3 of the linear motion guide device according to the first embodiment) showing the state of the circulation path in the linear motion guide device of the first embodiment. 5A and 5B are diagrams showing the configuration of the return guide in the first embodiment, wherein FIG. 5A is a front view and FIG. 5B is a rear view. FIG. 6 is a view showing a modification of the return guide in the first embodiment, (a) and (b) are a front view and a rear view of the first modification, and (c) and (d) are a second modification. , (E) and (f) show a front view and a rear view of the third modification, and (g) and (h) show a front view and a rear view of the fourth modification, respectively. FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the state of the circulation path in the linear motion guide device of the second embodiment. FIG. 8 is a view showing the configuration of the elastic member in the second embodiment, where (a) is a front view, (b) is a side view, (c) is a top view, and (d) is a perspective view showing an engaging portion. It is. FIG. 9 is a view showing the configuration of the return guide in the second embodiment, wherein (a) is a front view and (b) is a rear view. FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the state of the circulation path in the linear motion guide device of the third embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration of an end cap in the third embodiment.

A rolling device according to each embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
(First embodiment)
A linear motion guide device 100 that is a rolling device according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is used for a machine tool, a conveying device, and other production equipment. And a slider 2 that can move along.

  The guide rail 1 is made of a substantially quadrangular prism-shaped metal member, and two rolling grooves 1a extending in the longitudinal direction are formed on both side surfaces thereof.

The slider 2 includes a slider body 3 and end caps 4 and 4 attached to both ends of the slider body 3 in the longitudinal direction.
The slider body 3 is made of a metal member that extends in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail 1 and has a substantially U-shaped cross section, and is straddled over the guide rail 1. Two rolling grooves 3 a extending in the longitudinal direction facing the rolling grooves 1 a of the guide rail 1 are provided on the portions of the slider body 3 facing the both sides of the guide rail 1, that is, the inner surfaces of the legs on both sides. (See also FIGS. 3 and 4).
The rolling groove 3 a of the slider body 3 and the rolling groove 1 a of the guide rail 1 constitute a rolling path (load rolling path) of the rolling element 5.
Two straight return passages 3b penetrating in the longitudinal direction of the slider body 3 are formed in parallel with the rolling grooves 3a in the leg portions on both sides of the slider body 3 (see also FIGS. 3 and 4). The cross-sectional shape of the return path 3b is shown in FIG. 3 in order to arrange the rolling elements 5 and an elastic member 9 to be described later in the return path 3b. It is a tied form). The cross-sectional shape of the return path 3b is not limited to a rounded rectangle, and may be a perfect circle, for example.

  The end cap 4 is made of a substantially U-shaped resin member. As shown also in FIG. 2, the direction change path 6 is formed in two places on the leg part of both sides in the surface at the side of the slider main body 3 of the end cap 4. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the direction change path 6 communicates the rolling path and the return path 3 b and has a semicircular arc shape. The direction change path 6 will be described in detail later. The end cap 4 is not limited to resin and may be made of metal.

  The return path 3b of the slider body 3 and the direction change path 6 of the end cap 4 constitute a circulation path for circulating the rolling elements 5 to the rolling path. The return path 3b of the slider body 3 is also referred to as a straight line portion of the circulation path, and the direction changing path 6 of the end cap 4 is also referred to as a curve portion of the circulation path. As shown in FIG. 1, a large number of metal balls are loaded as rolling elements 5 in the circulation path and the rolling path.

  With the above configuration, the slider 2 can linearly move on the guide rail 1 by the rolling element 5 rolling on the rolling path. In addition, the rolling element 5 that has rolled in the rolling path is guided to the rolling path again through the circulation path, and can circulate through the rolling path and the circulation path.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, elastic members 9 are respectively inserted into the four return paths 3 b of the slider body 3. The elastic member 9 has a rectangular cross section and has a flat plate shape extending in the longitudinal direction of the slider body 3. Such an elastic member 9 is made of an elastically deformable metal such as a spring steel material. A steel strip for a thin plate spring can be used as the spring steel material. As such steel strips, special steel strip materials (CSP (JIS G3311)), stainless steel strips for springs (SUS-CSP (JIS G4313)), cold rolling for springs are only available. It is preferable to use a steel strip (for example, S50C-CSP (JIS G4802)). By using these steel strips, the sag resistance of the spring steel material, that is, the elastic member 9, can be improved.

  As shown in FIG. 2, two semicircular rolling grooves 4 a are formed in each leg portion on the surface of the end cap 4 on the slider body 3 side, and the semicylindrical concave portion intersects with these. 4c is further formed. A return guide 7 shown in FIG. 5 is attached to the recess 4c (see FIGS. 3 and 4). In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, the tongue part 8 for scooping up the rolling element 5 which rolled the rolling path and guide | inducing to the rolling groove 4a is integrated in the inner surface of each leg part of the end cap 4 by two places. Is formed.

  The return guide 7 is made of a semi-cylindrical resin member formed with two rolling grooves 7a facing the rolling grooves 4a of the end cap 4 as shown in FIG. The rolling direction groove 6 is formed by the rolling groove 7 a and the rolling groove 4 a of the end cap 4. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the return guide 7 has a hole 7c formed at the groove bottom at the end of the rolling groove 7a on the return path 3b side. The hole 7 c extends in the longitudinal direction of the slider body 3 and penetrates the return guide 7. The cross section of the hole 7c has a rectangular shape, and the elastic member 9 can be fitted therein. The return guide 7 is not limited to resin but may be made of metal.

  With the configuration of the elastic member 9 and the return guide 7, when the slider 2 is assembled, the end of the elastic member 9 is fitted into the hole 7 c of the return guide 7 from the slider body 3 side. Thereby, the position of the elastic member 9 in the return path 3b can be fixed, and the elastic member 9 can be prevented from shifting or rotating in the return path 3b. The length of the elastic member 9 is larger than the length of the return path 3 b so that the elastic member 9 protrudes from both ends of the return path 3 b of the slider body 3, and the elastic member 9 extends from the hole 7 c of the return guide 7. The length is designed so as not to protrude into the rolling groove 7a. In particular, it is preferable that both end surfaces of the elastic member 9 are processed so as to be flush with the rolling groove 7 a of the return guide 7.

  As described above, the linear motion guide device 100 according to the present embodiment has the flat plate-like elastic member 9 disposed in the return path 3b of the slider body 3, so that the slider 2 travels on the guide rail 1. Even if the rolling elements 5 in the circulation path become over-packed and push-in occurs, the elastic member 9 is elastically deformed. Specifically, the elastic member 9 is bent toward the guide rail 1 so that the rolling-element 5 is pushed. It can be eliminated and the occurrence of ball slip can be prevented. For this reason, it can prevent that the frictional force between the rolling element 5 and a circulation path increases suddenly, and can suppress the fluctuation | variation of a frictional force effectively. Therefore, good operability of the linear motion guiding device 100 can be achieved while preventing the linear motion guiding device 100 from being damaged due to damage to the circulation path and the rolling elements 5. The elastic member 9 that has been elastically deformed can return to its original shape after passing through the rolling element 5.

  In particular, in this embodiment, the elastic member 9 has a flat plate shape, so that a gap C is formed between the elastic member 9 and the wall surface of the return path 3b in the return path 3b of the slider body 3 as shown in FIG. Is done. For this reason, the elastic member 9 is easily elastically deformed, and a large amount of elastic deformation can be secured. Therefore, the pushing of the rolling elements 5 in the circulation path that occurs when the slider 2 travels can be more effectively eliminated by the elastic member 9 being largely elastically deformed, and the operability of the linear motion guide device 100 can be improved. Deterioration and failure can be better prevented.

  Further, in this embodiment, since the elastic member 9 is formed in a flat plate shape, the slider main body 3 has a configuration in which a cylindrical sleeve is disposed in the return path of the slider main body as in the conventional linear motion guide device described above. The diameter of the return path 3b can be reduced. For this reason, the enlargement of the slider main body 3 can be prevented, and as a result, the enlargement of the entire linear motion guide device 100 can also be prevented.

  Moreover, this embodiment improves the oil resistance, wear resistance, and durability of the elastic member 9 by adopting an elastically deformable metal for the elastic member 9 as compared to the case of using rubber, resin, or elastomer. be able to. For this reason, it is possible to realize a long life while maintaining the operability of the linear motion guide device 100 satisfactorily.

  In the present embodiment, the hole 7c is formed in the return guide 7 so as to be in contact with the groove bottom of the end of the rolling groove 7a on the return path 3b side of the slider body 3, and the end of the elastic member 9 is formed in the hole 7c. It is the structure which fits. For this reason, when the slider 2 travels, the rolling element 5 can be smoothly guided by the elastic member 9 from the return path 3b of the slider body 3 to the direction change path 6 of the end cap 4, and the direction change path 6 To the return path 3b.

  As described above, the linear motion guide device 100 according to the present embodiment fixes the elastic member 9 in the return path 3b of the slider body 3 so that the end of the elastic member 9 is connected to the hole 7c of the return guide 7. It is the structure fitted to. However, the cross-sectional shape and number of the elastic members 9 and the cross-sectional shape and number of the hole portions 7c of the return guide 7 are not limited to those described above, and the elastic member 9 can be fixed in the return path 3b of the slider body 3 while preventing rotation. Any shape is acceptable.

  Specifically, for example, as shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b), the cross section of the hole 7c of the return guide 7 has a trapezoidal shape (ant groove shape), and the elastic member 9 has a cross section corresponding to this. A trapezoidal prism member may be used. Further, as shown in FIGS. 6C and 6D, the cross section of the hole 7c of the return guide 7 may be circular, and the elastic member 9 may be a cylindrical member corresponding to this. Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 (e) and 6 (f), the cross section of the hole 7c of the return guide 7 may be made into two circles, and the elastic member 9 may be made into two columnar members correspondingly. Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 (g) and 6 (h), the hole 7c of the return guide 7 may have a semicircular cross section, and the elastic member 9 may be a columnar member having a substantially semicircular cross section corresponding thereto. .

(Second Embodiment)
In the linear motion guide device 200, which is a rolling device according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof is omitted, and different configurations are described in detail. .

  As shown in FIG. 7, the linear guide apparatus 200 according to the present embodiment includes an elastic member 91 and a return guide 71 instead of the elastic member 9 and the return guide 7 in the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the elastic member 91 is one in which engaging portions 92 are integrally provided at both ends of the elastic member 9 in the first embodiment. The engaging portion 92 has a substantially semi-cylindrical shape that is thicker than the flat plate portion of the elastic member 91, and a side surface portion 92a that can contact the wall surface of the return path 3b of the slider body 3 without a gap and a step portion 92b. Is formed. The entire length of the elastic member 91 including the engaging portion 92 is designed to be the same as the return path 3 b of the slider body 3. Such an elastic member 91 is made of a metal that can be elastically deformed like the elastic member 9 in the first embodiment, for example, a spring steel material specifically described in the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 9, in the return guide 7 of the first embodiment, the return guide 71 is integrally provided with a protrusion 71d instead of the hole 7c. Specifically, the protrusion 71d is provided on the bottom surface of the return guide 71, that is, on the slider body 3 side surface, at the groove bottom at the end of the rolling groove 7a on the return path 3b side. The protrusion 71d has a substantially flat plate shape extending toward the slider body 3 so as to extend the rolling groove 7a, and can be engaged with the stepped portion 92b of the engaging portion 92 of the elastic member 91. It is. Note that the thickness of the protrusion 71d is designed to be the same as the height of the stepped portion 92b, and the rolling element 5 can smoothly roll at the joint portion between the protrusion 71d and the elastic member 91.

  Due to the configuration of the elastic member 91 and the return guide 71, when the slider 2 is assembled, a gap formed between the projection 71d of the return guide 71 and the wall surface of the return path 3b of the slider main body 3 as shown in FIG. The engaging portion 92 of the elastic member 91 is fitted. Thereby, the position of the elastic member 91 in the return path 3b can be fixed, and the elastic member 91 can be prevented from shifting or rotating in the return path 3b.

  The linear motion guide device 200 according to the present embodiment including the elastic member 91 and the return guide 71 having the above configuration can achieve the same effects as the linear motion guide device 100 according to the first embodiment. In particular, in the present embodiment, the elastic member 91 is provided with the thick engaging portion 92, so that the outer surface of the elastic member 92 has a uniform depth and reaches from the one end to the other end in the short direction of the elastic member 92. In the longitudinal direction, a recess extending over the range excluding the engaging portion 92 is formed. For this reason, a gap C is formed between the elastic member 91 and the wall surface of the return path 3 b of the slider body 3. For this reason, the elastic member 91 is easily elastically deformed, and the push of the rolling elements 5 in the circulation path can be more effectively eliminated to better prevent the deterioration of the operability and failure of the linear motion guide device 200. it can.

  As described above, in the linear guide device 200 according to the present embodiment, the return guide 71 is provided with the protrusion 71d, and the engaging portion 92 of the elastic member 91 is provided in the gap between the protrusion 71d and the return path 3b of the slider body 3. It is the structure which fits. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and a substantially flat projection is provided on the end of the end cap 4 on the side of the slider body 3 on the end of the rolling groove 4a on the return path 3b side. It is good also as a structure which engages the engaging part 92 of the elastic member 91 in the clearance gap with the return path 3b.

(Third embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 10, the linear motion guide device 300 according to the present embodiment includes an end cap 40 and a return guide 72 instead of the end cap 4 and the return guide 7 in the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 11, the end cap 40 has a hole 40c formed in the groove bottom at the end of the rolling groove 4a on the return path 3b side on the surface of the end cap 4 in the first embodiment on the slider body 3 side. It is a thing. The hole 40c extends in the longitudinal direction of the slider body 3, has a rectangular cross section, and can be fitted with the elastic member 9.
The return guide 72 is obtained by removing the hole portion 7c from the return guide 7 in the first embodiment.

  The linear motion guide device 300 according to the present embodiment including the end cap 40 and the return guide 72 having such a configuration can also fix the position of the elastic member 9 in the return path 3b of the slider body 3, and the first embodiment has the same structure. The same effects as those of the linear motion guide device 100 can be obtained.

  As described above, in the first to third embodiments, the linear motion guide devices 100, 200, and 300 including balls as the rolling elements 5 are shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can also be applied to a linear guide device provided with rollers as rolling elements. Further, the present invention is not limited to a linear motion guide device, but can also be applied to a curved motion guide device.

  As described above, according to each embodiment, it is possible to realize a rolling device that has good operability and long life while preventing an increase in size.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Guide rail 1a Rolling groove 2 of a guide rail Slider 3 Slider main body 3a Rolling groove 3b of a slider main body Return path 4, 40 of a slider main body End cap 5 Rolling body 6 Direction change path 7, 71, 72 of an end cap Return guide 9, 91, 92 Elastic member 100, 200, 300 Linear motion guide device (linear guide device)

Claims (7)

A first member; a second member; and a rolling element disposed between the first member and the second member. The second member is moved along the first member by rolling of the rolling element. In a movable rolling device,
A rolling path of the rolling element comprising a rolling groove formed in the first member and a rolling groove formed in the second member so as to face the rolling groove of the first member, and the second member And a circulation path that communicates with the rolling path and circulates the rolling elements,
The circulation path includes a return path formed in the second member, and a direction change path formed in a direction changing member provided in the second member and communicating the return path and the rolling path. ,
An elastic member made of metal is disposed in the return path,
The rolling device according to claim 1, wherein a longitudinal end portion of the elastic member is engaged with the direction changing member.   The rolling device according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member has a plate shape or a column shape.   The rolling device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a longitudinal end portion of the elastic member is fitted in a hole formed in the direction changing member.   The rolling device according to claim 3, wherein the hole is formed so as to be in contact with an end of the second member on the return path side in the direction change path of the direction change member. The direction changing member is provided with a protrusion extending into the return path;
3. The longitudinal end portion of the elastic member is engaged with a gap formed by the protrusion of the direction change member and a wall surface of the return path. Rolling device.   The rolling device according to claim 5, wherein a concave portion is formed on an outer surface of the elastic member. The first member comprises a guide rail,
The second member includes a slider body in which the return path is formed, and the direction changing member including an end cap and a return guide.
2. The direction change path includes a rolling groove formed in the end cap and a rolling groove formed in the return guide so as to face the rolling groove of the end cap. The rolling device according to claim 6.

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