JP4430192B2 - Rolling guide device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for rolling and guiding a moving body along a predetermined track member, and more particularly to a rolling guide apparatus that can effectively prevent a skew phenomenon of a roller as a rolling body.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Generally, this type of apparatus has a race member and a movable body that is movably attached to the race member via a number of rollers as rolling elements. The roller is a pair of direction change connecting the load rolling path formed between the raceway member and the moving body, a return path provided in the moving body in parallel with the load rolling path, and the load rolling path and the return path. It is loaded into an infinite circulation path composed of a path. As the moving body moves along the track member, the roller rolls from one end to the other end of the load rolling path while receiving a load from the moving body, and then returns to the return path through one direction changing path. And then returned to one end of the load rolling path via the other direction change path.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the rolling guide device described above, the width of the infinite circulation path (referring to the gap amount of each rolling path in the axial direction of the roller) is approximately equal to or slightly wider than the total length of the roller in the axial direction in the loaded rolling path. Is somewhat wider than the load rolling road. Therefore, the roller is caught between the load rolling path and the direction changing path. Further, the infinite circulation path has a width, and the pair of rolling surfaces sandwiching the roller are not necessarily parallel due to deformation due to processing error or insufficient rigidity. For this reason, a roller may fall diagonally with respect to the direction orthogonal to an infinite rolling path. This phenomenon is sometimes called skew. This will be described with reference to FIG.
[0004]
FIG. 11B schematically shows a state in which the roller 3 moves along a connection portion between the load rolling path 1 and the direction changing path 2 of the infinite circulation path, and the moving direction of the roller 3 is indicated by an arrow A. Thus, the direction is from the direction change path 2 toward the load rolling path 1. The roller 3 moving along the direction change path 2 receives a load gradually when it reaches the vicinity of the load rolling path 1, but when the load at that time acts unevenly, the roller 3 is elastically deformed into a tapered roller shape, The posture may be inclined with respect to the direction of the load rolling path 1. The skewed roller 3 moves obliquely on the load rolling path 1 and its end faces 3a, 3a rub against the side walls 1a, 1a of the load rolling path 1, resulting in an increase in the rolling resistance of the roller 3, Malfunctions occur, premature wear, heat generation, and noise occur.
[0005]
Moreover, the side wall 1a of the conventional load rolling path 1 is formed in the block main body 4 of a moving body, and the side walls 2a and 2a of the direction change path 2 are the direction change path formation members (for example, end plate) attached to the end surface of the block main body 4. 5 is formed. Therefore, the width of the rolling path changes discontinuously at the joint position C between the block main body 4 and the direction change path forming member 5 to form a step, and the roller 3 having a skew in the direction change path 2 becomes the step. There is also a risk that smooth circulation will be hindered.
[0006]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a rolling guide device that can prevent problems caused by roller skew and realize a smooth roller circulation motion.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention will be described below. In order to facilitate understanding of the present invention, reference numerals in the accompanying drawings are appended in parentheses, but the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment.
[0008]
The present invention includes a race member (11), a movable body (12) assembled in a state movable relative to the race member in a longitudinal direction of the race member, and the race member and the movable body. A plurality of rollers (16) interposed therebetween, wherein the rollers include a load rolling path (40) formed between the raceway member and the movable body, and the load rolling path in parallel with the load rolling path. In the rolling guide device (10) loaded in an infinite circulation path composed of a return path (41) provided in a moving body and a direction change path (42) connecting the load rolling path and the return path, It said moving body, the block body (20), and a direction change path forming member is secured to both end surfaces of the block body (21), towards the front Symbol roller from both ends of the axial direction toward the center pressing means (50, 50) is the lateral pressing Te It provided only the connecting portion and the vicinity thereof with respect to the loaded rolling passage conversion path for solving the above problems.
[0009]
According to this invention, the roller that has moved along the direction changing path toward the load rolling path is pressed toward the center side from both axial ends by the pressing means before entering the load rolling path. Therefore, even if the roller axis is inclined obliquely with respect to the original movement direction (longitudinal direction of the load rolling path), the posture of each roller moves along the axis because the roller passes through the pressing portion by the pressing means. It is corrected to the correct posture orthogonal to the direction. Accordingly, it is possible to always guide each roller to the load rolling path in a correct posture to prevent the roller from skewing and to avoid various problems caused by it.
[0010]
In the rolling guide apparatus of the present invention, a pair of guide portions made of an elastic material extending in the longitudinal direction of the load rolling path while facing the axial direction of the roller at a connection portion of the direction changing path with respect to the load rolling path ( 21c and 30a or 21c and 31a) may be provided, and these guide portions may be provided with pressing portions (50, 50) that project toward the center in the width direction of the direction change path and function as the pressing means. In this case, both ends of the roller come into contact with the guide portion and elastically deform so that the guide portion opens outward, and the both ends of the roller are pushed toward the axial center by the restoring force. Since it is not necessary to prepare an elastic body such as a spring separately from the guide portion, the pressing means of the present invention can be easily realized.
[0011]
Of the pair of guide portions, at least one guide portion (30a, 31a) is formed on a rolling path forming member (30, 31) provided across the load rolling path and the direction changing path, and the load. You may continue from a rolling path to the said direction change path. If it does in this way, the guide wall of the roller which continued from the direction change path to the load rolling path can be formed, and a roller can be smoothly guided without a discontinuous level difference.
[0012]
In the rolling guide device of the present invention, the moving body (12) includes a block main body (20) and direction change path forming members (21, 22, 23) fixed to both end faces of the block main body. Of the pair of guide parts, one guide part (21c) is formed on the direction change path forming member (21), and the other guide part (30a, 31a) is formed on the load rolling path and the direction change path. It may be formed in the rolling path formation member (30, 31) provided across and may continue from the said load rolling path to the said direction change path. The block body is generally made of a high-rigidity material such as steel so that it can withstand the load applied to the rolling guide device, but the direction change path forming member is made of an elastic material such as resin, so it forms the above-mentioned guide part. Convenient to do. Moreover, a continuous roller guide wall from the direction change path to the load rolling path can be formed, and the roller can be smoothly guided without discontinuous steps.
[0013]
In the present invention, the pressing portion (50, 50) as the pressing means may be projected so as to draw an arc on the center side in the width direction of the load rolling road. If it does in this way, the groove width of a direction change path will change continuously in the process which reaches a load rolling path via a press part from a direction change path, and it can perform correction of a posture of a roller smoothly.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a rolling guide device to which the present invention is applied. The illustrated rolling guide device 10 includes a track member 11, a moving body 12 attached to the track member 11 so as to be relatively movable in the longitudinal direction, a plate cover 14 covering the upper surface 11a of the track member 11, and a movement. An inner seal 15 is provided between the body 12 and the plate cover 14. Although the plate cover 14 is drawn shorter than the track member 11 in FIG. 1, the track member 11 and the plate cover 14 actually have substantially the same length in the longitudinal direction.
[0015]
The track member 11 is made of a material having high rigidity such as steel, and a large number of bolt mounting holes 11b. The bolt mounting hole 11b is for fixing the race member 11 to a machine part, and penetrates the race member 11 up and down. Two rolling surfaces 11d... 11d on which a large number of rollers 16... 16 (see FIGS. 2 to 7) as rolling elements travel are formed on both side surfaces 11c and 11c of the raceway member 11.
[0016]
The moving body 12 includes a block main body 20, end plates 23 and 23 attached to both end faces of the block main body 20 via bolts 24 (see FIGS. 2 and 3), and screws 26 on the outer surface of each end plate 23. And end seals 25 and 25 which are fixed by using 26.
[0017]
2 and 3 are diagrams showing the configuration of the end of the moving body 12. In each figure, the right side of the center line CL shows the appearance from the outside of the end plate 23, and the left side shows the internal structure of the end plate 23. ing. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion IV in FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion V in FIG. Further, FIG. 6A is a perspective view showing a state in which the moving body 12 is extracted from the track member 11 and viewed from the lower surface side, and FIG. 6B is a perspective view in which the roller 16 as a rolling element is omitted from FIG. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view showing the VII portion of FIG. 6 (b).
[0018]
As is apparent from FIGS. 2 to 5, the moving body 12 is attached to the track member 11 via a number of rollers 16. Each roller 16 is accommodated in a belt-like retainer 17 in an aligned state (a state where the axes of the rollers 16 are parallel and aligned in a direction perpendicular to the axes). A predetermined number of rollers 16 and one retainer 17 constitute a set of roller assemblies 13. Each roller 16 can rotate around its own axis while being held by the retainer 17. Four roller assemblies 13 are used for one moving body 12.
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 6, intermediate plates 21 and 22 for forming a direction change path of the roller 16 are mounted between the end plate 23 and the block body 20. 6 shows the intermediate plates 21 and 22 only on the left side of the block body 20, the intermediate plates 21 and 22 are similarly mounted on the right side. The intermediate plate 21 is in close contact with the end surface of the block body 20, and the intermediate plate 22 is overlaid on the outside of the intermediate plate 21.
[0020]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a return pipe 27 for forming a return path for the roller 16 is attached to the block body 20. As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, rolling path forming members 28, 30 and 31 are provided between the intermediate plates 21 and 21. The intermediate plates 21, 22, end plate 23, return pipe 27, and rolling path forming members 28, 29, 30, 31 are all resin molded products. The intermediate plates 21 and 22 and the end plate 23 function as direction change path forming members. Four return pipes 27 are used for one block body 20.
[0021]
The block body 20 is made of a material having high rigidity such as steel like the race member 11, and a recess 20a (see FIG. 6) for receiving the race member 11 is formed on the lower surface side thereof. Two rolling surfaces 20b and 20b of the roller 16 are formed on the inner walls on both sides of the recess 20a so as to face the rolling surface 11d of the track member 11. Further, in the region outside the rolling surface 20b of the block body 20, two through holes 20c to 20c are formed on the left and right sides. Each through hole 20 c penetrates the block body 20 in the longitudinal direction of the track member 11.
[0022]
When the intermediate plates 21, 22 and the end plate 23 are attached to the block body 20, the return pipe 27 and the rolling path forming members 28, 30, 31 are assembled between the intermediate plates 21. On the other hand, the return pipe 27 is inserted into the through hole 20 c of the block body 20.
[0023]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, an inner seal 15 is interposed between the upper surface 11 a of the track member 11 and the moving body 12. The inner seal 15 is provided with a seal lip (not shown) on the lower surface of a base material 15a made of a steel plate or the like, and buffering lips 15b ... 15b on the upper surface. The inner seal 15 is constrained between the end plates 23 and 23 in the longitudinal direction of the track member 11 by inserting both ends of the inner seal 15 into the recesses 23 a and 23 a (see FIG. 10) on the inner surface of the end plate 23. 12 is prevented from coming out in the longitudinal direction. However, the concave portion 23a of the end plate 23 is set to be larger than the thickness of both end portions of the inner seal 15 in the vertical direction (the direction orthogonal to the upper surface 11a of the track member 11). 15 can move up and down. The lip on the lower surface side of the inner seal 15 is in close contact with the plate cover 14 to prevent foreign matter from entering the load rolling path 40 (see FIG. 2) and leakage of lubricant (grease) from the load rolling path 40.
[0024]
The moving body 12 is formed in the load rolling path 40 of the roller 16 defined by each rolling surface 20 b and rolling path forming members 28, 30, 31 arranged around the rolling surface 20 b and in the middle of each return pipe 27. A return path 41 and direction change paths 42 formed between the intermediate plate 21 and the intermediate plate 22 and between the intermediate plate 22 and the end plate 23 are provided. The direction changing path 42 includes a direction changing path 42 that connects the upper load rolling path 40 and the diagonally lower return path 41, and a direction changing path 42 that connects the lower load rolling path 40 and the diagonally upper return path 41. Exists. One direction change path 42 is formed between the intermediate plates 21 and 22, and the other direction change path 42 is formed between the intermediate plate 22 and the end plate 23. Therefore, the direction change paths 42 and 42 are three-dimensionally crossed at an angle of approximately 90 °.
[0025]
One return path 41 and a pair of direction change paths 42 and 42 connected to both ends thereof constitute one unloaded rolling path, and the unloaded rolling path and the loaded rolling path 40 constitute one infinite circulation path. It is formed. The roller assembly 13 is loaded so as to form a loop in each infinite circulation path. When the moving body 12 moves relative to the track member 11 in the longitudinal direction, the roller assembly 13 moves along the endless circulation path, and the moving body 12 is rolled and guided in the longitudinal direction of the track member 11.
[0026]
As is apparent from FIGS. 4 to 7, an abutting surface 20 d that is substantially orthogonal to the rolling surface 20 b is formed on one side of each rolling surface 20 b of the block body 20. The roller 16 moves along the load rolling path 40 so as to contact the face 20d. Further, as is apparent from FIG. 7, the connecting portion between the load rolling path 40 and the direction changing path 42 swells toward the center in the width direction of these paths and pushes the roller 16 toward the center from both ends in the axial direction. Portions 50 and 50 (shown with hatching in FIG. 7) are formed. One pressing portion 50 is formed on the rolling path forming member 30 or 31, and the other pressing portion 50 is formed on the intermediate plate 21, respectively, and details thereof will be clarified by referring to FIG.
[0027]
8 shows a state in which the rolling path forming members 28, 30 and 31 are assembled between the intermediate plates 21, 21, and FIG. 9 shows a state in which the assembled structure is viewed from the direction of arrow IX in FIG.
[0028]
As is apparent from these drawings, the rolling path forming members 30 and 31 are respectively attached to the upper and lower ends of one side of the intermediate plates 21 and 21, and the rolling path forming member 28 is substantially the same as one side of the intermediate plate 21. Mounted in the center. Thin guide portions 28a, 28a are provided on the upper and lower side edges of the rolling path forming member 28, and thin guide portions 30a, 31a are similarly provided on one side edge of the rolling path forming members 30, 31. When the intermediate plates 21, 21 and the rolling path forming members 28, 30, 31 are assembled to the block body 20, the guide portions 28a, 28a and the guide portions 30a, 31a are on both edges along the longitudinal direction of the rolling surface 20b. They are arranged to face each other in the width direction of the load rolling path 40 with a gap slightly larger than the total length in the axial direction of the roller 16 (however, narrower than the width of the direction changing path 42). Thereby, the end surface of the roller 16 which moves the load rolling path 40 is guided by guide part 28a, 30a, 31a. As is clear from FIG. 7, a retainer guide groove 43 for guiding the retainer 17 is formed between the guide portion 28 a and the block body 20.
[0029]
The center rolling path forming member 28 is fixed between the intermediate plates 21 and 21 by inserting shaft portions (not shown) provided at both ends thereof into fitting holes (not shown) of the intermediate plate 21. On the other hand, the upper and lower rolling path forming members 30, 31 protrude in the longitudinal direction from the intermediate plate 21. And the press part 50 mentioned above is formed in the protrusion part of the guide parts 30a and 31a (refer FIG. 7).
[0030]
The intermediate plate 21 is integrally formed with a protruding portion 21b connected to the rolling path forming member 28. The shape of the cross section of the protruding portion 21b is substantially equal to that of the rolling path forming member 28, and thin guide portions 21c and 21c are also formed on the upper and lower side edges of the protruding portion 21b. When the intermediate plate 21 and the rolling path forming member 28 are combined, the guide portions 21c and 21c extend outside the intermediate plate 21 so as to add the guide portions 28a and 28a of the rolling path forming member 28. Each guide part 21c, 21c is formed with a pressing part 50 that faces the pressing part 50 of the guide parts 30a, 31a. The protruding amount of the guide portions 21c, 21c, 30a, 31a from the outer end surface 21d of the intermediate plate 21 is the same as the thickness of the intermediate plate 22 joined to the outer end surface 21d.
[0031]
10 is a front view of the end plate 23 on the inner end surface (joint surface with the block main body 20) side. The end plate 23 is formed with recesses 23c and 23c into which the intermediate plates 21 and 22 are fitted.
[0032]
According to the above configuration, as shown in detail in FIG. 7, the pair of guide portions 21 c and 30 a (not shown in FIG. 7) and 31 a are loaded at the connection portion of the direction change path 42 to the load rolling path 40. The rolling path 40 is straightly extended, and the width of the direction changing path 42 is once narrowed in front of the load rolling path 40 by the pressing portions 50 and 50 therebetween. FIG. 11 (a) shows a connecting portion between the load rolling path 40 and the direction changing path 42 in a flat plane, where the roller 16 moves in the direction of arrow A, that is, from the direction changing path 42 to the load rolling path 40. It shows how it moves toward. The roller 16 that has moved along the direction change path 42 toward the load rolling path 40 is guided between the guide portions 21 c and 30 a or 31 a before entering the load rolling path 40 and is pushed in the axial direction by the pressing portion 50. . At this time, even if the posture of the roller 16 is inclined with respect to the traveling direction, the roller 16 is aligned in a correct posture with the axis thereof orthogonal to the moving direction by the force of the pressing portion 50, and then the load is turned. Enter the runway 40. Therefore, the skew phenomenon is prevented beforehand. Since the pressing part 50 is formed in the thin guide part 21c, 30a or 31a provided in the resin-made intermediate plate 21 or the rolling path forming member 30, 31, it is easily elastically deformed by the force with which the roller 16 comes into contact. At the same time, the roller 16 is slightly pressed in the axial direction by the restoring force. Therefore, there is no possibility that the roller 16 is strongly sandwiched between the pressing portions 50 and 50 and the movement thereof is hindered.
[0033]
As is clear from FIG. 11A, the width W2 of the direction change path 42 is formed to be somewhat wider than the groove width W1 of the load rolling path 40, and the distance between the narrowest portions between the pressing portions 50, 50 (however, The no-load state where the roller 16 is not in contact is somewhat narrower than that of the load rolling path 40. The pressing part 50 draws a gentle arc that swells toward the center in the width direction of the load rolling path 40, and the interval between the end parts on the direction changing path 42 side of the pressing parts 50, 50 is the width W 2 of the direction changing path 42. The interval between the end portions of the pressing portions 50, 50 on the side of the load rolling path 40 is equal to the width W1 of the load rolling path 40. Accordingly, there is no discontinuous step at the connecting portion between the direction changing path 42 and the load rolling path 40, and the smooth circulation of the roller 16 is ensured. Furthermore, since the guide portions 30a and 31a extend across the load rolling path 40 and the direction changing path 42, if the end surface of the roller 16 is guided with reference to this, the load rolling path 40 and the direction changing path 42 are separated. A roller guide surface having no step can be formed between them, and the roller 16 can be moved more smoothly.
[0034]
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be implemented in various forms. For example, the direction change paths 42 and 42 do not need to cross each other. The present invention is not limited to the rolling guide device in which the roller 16 is held by the retainer 17. The direction change path forming member may be integrally fixed to the block body using insert molding or the like.
[0035]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the rolling guide device of the present invention, the roller moving along the direction change path toward the load rolling path can be always guided in the correct posture with respect to the load rolling path, thereby preventing roller skew. In addition, it is possible to prevent various malfunctions due to skew. Further, in particular, a pair of guide portions is provided in a connection portion of the direction change path with respect to the load rolling path, and at least one of the guide portions is provided on the rolling path that spans the load rolling path and the direction change path. When formed on the forming member and made continuous from the load rolling path to the direction rolling path, a continuous roller guide wall can be formed from the direction switching path to the load rolling path, eliminating the discontinuous step and making the roller smoother. Can guide you.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a rolling guide device to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration on an end face side of a moving body provided in the rolling guide device of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of an end face side of a moving body at a position different from FIG. 2;
4 is an enlarged view of a portion IV in FIG.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a V portion in FIG. 3;
FIGS. 6A and 6B are perspective views showing a configuration of a connecting portion between a load rolling path and a direction changing path, in which FIG. 6A shows a state where a roller assembly is mounted, and FIG. 6B shows a state where the roller assembly is omitted. Yes.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged view showing a VII portion in FIG.
FIG. 8 is a view showing a state in which a rolling path forming member is assembled between intermediate plates.
9 is a side view from the direction of arrow IX in FIG.
FIG. 10 is a view showing a state in which the end plate is viewed from the side of the joint surface with respect to the block main body.
FIGS. 11A and 11B are diagrams showing how a roller moves from a direction change path to a load rolling path, where FIG. 11A shows the case of the present invention and FIG. 11B shows the conventional case.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Rolling guide apparatus 11 Track member 11d Rolling surface 12 Moving body 13 Roller assembly 15 Inner seal 16 Roller 17 Retainer 20 Block main body 20b Rolling surface 20d Rolling face 21 and 22 Intermediate | middle plate (direction change path formation member)
21c guide part 23 end plate (direction change path formation member)
28, 30, 31 Rolling path forming members 28a, 30a, 31a Guide section 40 Load rolling path 41 Return path 42 Direction switching path 43 Retainer guide groove 50 Pressing section (pressing means)

Claims (5)

A track member, a moving body assembled in a state movable relative to the track member in the longitudinal direction of the track member, and a plurality of rollers interposed between the track member and the moving body. The roller includes a load rolling path formed between the track member and the moving body, a return path provided in the moving body in parallel with the load rolling path, the load rolling path, and the In the rolling guide device loaded in the infinite circulation path composed of the direction change path connecting the return path,
The moving body has a block main body and a direction change path forming member fixed to both end faces of the block main body,
Before Symbol roller rolling, it characterized in that the pressing means for pressing toward the center from both ends of the axial direction is provided only in the connecting portion and the vicinity thereof with respect to the load rolling path of the direction changing passage guide device.   The connecting portion of the direction change path with respect to the load rolling path is provided with a pair of elastic material guide portions extending in the longitudinal direction of the load rolling path while facing the axial direction of the roller. The rolling guide device according to claim 1, wherein a pressing portion that protrudes toward the center in the width direction of the direction change path and functions as the pressing means is provided.   Of the pair of guide portions, at least one guide portion is formed on a rolling path forming member provided across the load rolling path and the direction changing path, and is continuous from the load rolling path to the direction changing path. The rolling guide device according to claim 2, wherein the rolling guide device is provided. Among previous Symbol pair of guide portions, one of the guide portion is formed in the direction change path forming member, the other guide portion to rolling path forming member which is provided across said direction changing passage and the loaded rolling passage The rolling guide device according to claim 2, wherein the rolling guide device is formed and is continuous from the load rolling path to the direction changing path.   5. The rolling guide device according to claim 2, wherein the pressing portion protrudes so as to draw an arc on the width direction center side of the direction change path.

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