JP7704416B2 - Seal material and method for attaching seal material - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a sealing material and a method for installing the sealing material.

For example, a known drive mechanism for machine tools such as machining centers and lathes is one that is equipped with a rail and a slider that slides on the rail (known as a linear motion guide, etc.). The slider moves smoothly back and forth on the rail, and rolling elements or rollers are placed inside the slider where it comes into contact with the rail to ensure sliding properties.

Cutting processing using machine tools is performed using, for example, coolant (cutting oil), and cutting produces chips. If this coolant or chips get inside the slider, the sliding performance of the slider decreases, and its lifespan decreases. Since the coolant and chips mainly get in from the ends in the sliding direction, a sealing material has been proposed that seals the ends of the slider in the sliding direction (see JP 2017-189863 A).

The sealing material includes a plate-shaped support member and a plate-shaped elastic member fixed to the support member via an adhesive layer, and the elastic member contacts the sliding surface inside the machine tool with its sliding side to ensure sealing. Examples of the elastic member include NBR (nitrile butadiene rubber), urethane elastomer, fluororubber, silicone rubber, EPDM (ethylene propylene diene rubber), etc., and among these, urethane elastomer is considered to be preferable.

JP 2017-189863 A

When a urethane elastomer is used for the elastic member, the elastic member is easily worn due to friction between the elastic member and the rail, and chips and foreign matter can enter through the worn parts, impairing the sealing performance and smooth movement. Furthermore, if the elastic member directly collides with chips or foreign matter, the elastic member may be scratched or torn, impairing the sealing performance. This makes it necessary to replace the sealing material every few months.

The present invention was made based on the above-mentioned circumstances, and aims to provide a sealing material that can prevent the intrusion of chips and foreign matter into the sliding part of the slider for a long period of time, and a method for attaching the sealing material.

The sealing material according to one aspect of the present invention is a sealing material for sealing the end of the slider in the sliding direction in a machine tool having a rail and a slider that slides on the rail, and is provided with a plate-shaped support body having a notched surface formed on its plate thickness surface that can fit around the rail, and a textile seal part that is placed on the notched surface, and the textile seal part has a textile surface made of a textile material, and the textile surface slidably abuts against the peripheral surface of the rail.

The sealing material of the present invention can prevent chips and foreign matter from entering the sliding portion of the slider for a long period of time.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a sealing material according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic exploded side view showing the configuration of one of the sealing materials shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic rear view of the support shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic rear view showing the inner frame (normal position) of the support shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic back view showing the inner frame (folding position) of the support shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic rear view showing the outer frame of the support shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a flow diagram showing steps of a first method for attaching the seal shown in FIG. 1 to a slider. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the procedure of the inner frame fitting step shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the procedure of the outer frame fitting step shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the procedure of the fitting step shown in FIG. FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which the sealant is attached to the slider according to the first method of attaching the sealant. FIG. 12 is a flow diagram showing steps of a second method for attaching the seal shown in FIG. 1 to a slider. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a state after the inner frame engaging step shown in FIG. FIG. 14 is a schematic back view showing the inner frame (normal position) of the support according to an embodiment different from that shown in FIG. FIG. 15 is a schematic back view showing the inner frame (normal position) of the support according to an embodiment different from that shown in FIGS.

[Description of the embodiments of the present invention]
First, the embodiments of the present invention will be listed and described.

The sealing material according to one aspect of the present invention is a sealing material for sealing the end of the slider in the sliding direction in a machine tool having a rail and a slider that slides on the rail, and is provided with a plate-shaped support body having a notched surface formed on its plate thickness surface that can fit around the rail, and a textile seal part that is placed on the notched surface, and the textile seal part has a textile surface made of a textile material, and the textile surface slidably abuts against the peripheral surface of the rail.

The sealing material has a fiber surface made of a fiber material that is in sliding contact with the circumferential surface of the rail. The fibers of this fiber surface of the sealing material can prevent chips and foreign matter from entering the sliding part of the slider. In addition, the fibers of the fiber surface are in line contact with the sliding surface of the rail, so they have lower friction and are less prone to wear than conventional sealing materials that make surface contact. Furthermore, due to the cushioning properties of the fibers, the fiber surface is less likely to be scratched or torn even when directly hit by chips or foreign matter, and the sealing properties are maintained. Therefore, the sealing material can prevent chips and foreign matter from entering the sliding part of the slider for a long period of time.

The fiber material may be a cut pile material. By using a cut pile material, which is a high-density fiber, as the fiber material, it is possible to more effectively prevent chips and foreign matter from entering the sliding portion of the slider.

The support may include a sheet-shaped rubber seal portion arranged on a plate surface facing the end of the slider, the rubber seal portion including a rubber material that slidably contacts the peripheral surface of the rail. With the above-mentioned configuration, the rubber seal portion and the fiber seal portion are arranged in this order from the side closest to the end of the slider. With this arrangement, the fiber seal portion prevents chips and foreign matter from entering the inside, and prevents the rubber seal portion located on the inside from being torn by chips and foreign matter. The rubber seal portion effectively prevents coolant from entering the sliding portion of the slider. Therefore, it is possible to effectively prevent coolant, in addition to chips and foreign matter, from entering the sliding portion of the slider for a long period of time.

The rubber material may be urethane rubber or silicone rubber. By using urethane rubber or silicone rubber as the rubber material, the resistance to swelling caused by coolant is increased, and the sealing performance is less likely to deteriorate.

The rubber material is preferably a thermosetting urethane rubber. By using a thermosetting urethane rubber as the rubber material, durability is increased, making it easier to maintain sealing performance for a long period of time.

The rubber material may protrude toward the rail from the fiber surface. By protruding the rubber material toward the rail from the fiber surface in this way, the protruding portion will slip under the fiber surface, with its tip facing outward in the sliding direction of the end of the slider (away from the slider). With the tip facing outward in the sliding direction of the end of the slider, chips, foreign matter, and coolant can be swept outward in the sliding direction, effectively preventing them from entering the sliding portion of the slider.

The textile seal part may have one or more protruding pieces that protrude in the sliding direction from the plate surface of the support, and the one or more protruding pieces may be arranged on one or both sides in the sliding direction. By providing the textile seal part with the protruding pieces in this way, the textile seal part can be fixed to the support part by, for example, sandwiching the protruding pieces between the support part and the slider that is in direct or indirect contact with it. This makes it possible to prevent the textile seal part from falling off and becoming caught in the sliding part.

The support has an inner frame in which the cutout surface is formed, and an outer frame configured to be able to fit with the inner frame from the sliding direction, the inner frame has a pair of arm parts that sandwich the circumferential surface of the rail from the left and right directions, and a connection part that covers the circumferential surface of the rail from above and connects the pair of arm parts to each other, a V-shaped notch with the cutout surface side as an apex is formed in the connection part, the connection part can be bent with the apex as a base point, the inner frame is configured to be unable to be inserted into and removed from the rail from above in the normal position where the connection part is not bent, the inner frame is configured to be able to be inserted into and removed from the rail from above in the bent position where the connection part is bent, and the outer frame is configured to be able to be inserted into and removed from the rail from above. By configuring the support as described above, the inner frame and the outer frame can be attached to the end of the slider by inserting them from above the rail and then fitting them together. This makes it easier to handle than fitting the seal material from the end of the rail along the sliding direction, and prevents the textile seal from being damaged when the seal material is installed.

A method for attaching a sealing material according to another aspect of the present invention is a method for attaching the sealing material of the present invention to the slider, and includes an inner frame fitting step of fitting the inner frame into the rail from above while bending the inner frame to the bending position, an inner frame engagement step of returning the inner frame to the normal position after the inner frame fitting step, thereby engaging the inner frame so that it cannot be inserted or removed from the rail, an outer frame fitting step of fitting the outer frame into the rail from above, a fitting step of fitting the inner frame and the outer frame together after the inner frame engagement step and the outer frame fitting step, and a fixing step of fixing the support having the inner frame and the outer frame to the end of the slider after the fitting step.

The method of attaching the sealant uses the sealant of the present invention, so the inner frame and the outer frame can be inserted from above the rail and then fitted together to attach the sealant to the end of the slider. This provides better handling than fitting the sealant from the end of the rail along the sliding direction, and prevents the fiber sealant from being damaged when the sealant is attached.

A method for attaching a sealing material according to yet another aspect of the present invention is a method for attaching a sealing material according to the present invention, in which the outer frame is fixed to an end of the slider, and the method includes an inner frame fitting step of bending the inner frame to the bending position and fitting it into the rail from above, an inner frame engagement step of returning the inner frame to the normal position after the inner frame fitting step, thereby engaging the inner frame so that it cannot be inserted or removed from the rail, and an inner frame fitting step of fitting the inner frame into the outer frame after the inner frame engagement step.

The method of attaching the sealant is easy to handle because it can be done while the outer frame is fixed to the end of the slider.

[Details of the embodiment of the present invention]
Hereinafter, a sealing material and a method for attaching a sealing material according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate.

[Sealing material]
A sealing material 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a sealing material for sealing an end portion of a slider Y in a sliding direction of a machine tool having a rail X and a slider Y that slides on the rail X.

As shown in FIG. 1, the rail X has a top surface X1 that supports the slider Y from below, and left and right side surfaces X2, and a groove portion X3 is formed on the side surface X2 to prevent the slider Y from falling off the rail X. The slider Y is disposed so as to straddle the top surface X1 and the left and right side surfaces X2 of the rail X, and is configured to fit into the groove portion X3. The slider Y slides while abutting against the top surface X1 of the rail X and at least the surface of the groove portion X3 of the left and right side surfaces X2 (sliding surface).

As shown in FIG. 2, the sealing material 1 includes a support 10, a fiber sealing portion 20, and a rubber sealing portion 30. In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the sealing material 1 seals both ends of the slider Y, but it can also be configured to seal only one end.

<Support>
The support 10 is in the form of a plate, and as shown in FIG. 3, a notched surface 10a capable of fitting around the rail X is formed on the plate thickness surface.

The material of the support 10 is not particularly limited as long as it has the strength to support the fiber seal portion 20 and allow it to slide on the rail X, but synthetic resin, stainless steel, aluminum, etc. can be used.

The shape of the support 10 is not particularly limited as long as it can fit around the rail X, but as shown in FIG. 1, it is preferable that at least the upper edge and side edge match the shape of the end of the slider Y. By matching the upper edge and side edge of the support 10 with the shape of the end of the slider Y, it is possible to stably fix the support 10 to the slider Y while avoiding interference with the operation of the machine tool.

The average thickness of the support 10 depends on the length of contact in the sliding direction in which the fiber seal portion 20 contacts the rail X and the required strength, but can be, for example, 1 mm to 20 mm. Note that the "average thickness" refers to the average value of the thickness measured at any 10 points excluding intentionally provided uneven parts. The same applies to the "average" of length, etc. below.

In the sealing material 1, as shown in FIG. 3, the support 10 has an inner frame 11 on which a cutout surface 10a is formed, and an outer frame 12 configured to be able to fit into the inner frame 11 from the sliding direction of the slider Y. In the support 10 shown in FIG. 3, the inner frame 11 and the outer frame 12 are configured to be fitted and fixed together by fitting a plurality of recesses 11a provided in the inner frame 11 into a plurality of protrusions 12a provided at positions corresponding to the respective recesses 11a of the outer frame 12, but the configuration for fitting the inner frame 11 and the outer frame 12 together is not limited to this.

As shown in FIG. 4, the inner frame 11 has a pair of arms 11b that sandwich the circumferential surface of the rail X from the left and right directions, and a connection portion 11c that covers the circumferential surface of the rail X from above and connects the pair of arms 11b to each other. In addition, a V-shaped notch 11d is formed in the connection portion 11c, with its apex on the cutout surface 10a side.

The connection portion 11c can be bent using the vertex as a base point. In the normal position (Figure 4) where the connection portion 11c is not bent, the inner frame 11 cannot be inserted or removed from the rail X from above. In the bent position (Figure 5) where the connection portion 11c is bent, the inner frame 11 can be inserted or removed from the rail X from above.

The connection portion 11c may be separated into two pieces at the vertex, or may be connected at the vertex. When the connection portion 11c is separated into two pieces at the vertex, the two pieces are connected by a fiber seal portion 20 described below. When the connection portion 11c is connected at the vertex, the connection portion has flexibility, allowing the connection portion 11c to be bent with the vertex as the base point. In this case, it is preferable that the inner frame 11 is made of synthetic resin.

The opening angle α of the notch 11d (see Figure 4, the angle of the V-shape) is appropriately determined so that the inner frame 11 can be inserted and removed from the rail X from above at the bent position, and can be, for example, between 30° and 90°.

As shown in FIG. 6, the outer frame 12 has a fall prevention surface 12b that prevents the inner frame 11 from falling out when the outer frame 12 is fitted. This fall prevention surface 12b has a recess 12c, and the outer frame 12 is configured so that it can be inserted and removed from the rail X from above. In other words, the width of the recess 12c is larger than the maximum width of the rail X and smaller than the maximum width of the inner frame 11.

In addition, the support 10 is provided with a plurality of through holes 10b for screwing to the slider Y. In the sealing material 1, the plurality of through holes 10b are provided in the outer frame 12. Note that all or part of the through holes 10b can also be provided in the inner frame 11.

By configuring the support 10 as described above, the inner frame 11 and the outer frame 12 can be inserted from above the rail X and then fitted together to attach to the end of the slider Y. This makes it easier to handle than fitting from the end of the rail X along the sliding direction, and also prevents the fiber seal portion 20 from being damaged when the seal material 1 is attached. This attachment method will be described later.

<Fabric seal>
3, the textile seal 20 is disposed on the cutout surface 10a of the support 10. The textile seal 20 has a textile surface 20a made of a textile material, and the textile surface 20a slidably abuts against the peripheral surface of the rail X. The textile seal 20 abuts against the peripheral surface of the rail X to seal the gap between the rail X and the slider Y, thereby preventing chips and foreign matter from entering the sliding portion of the slider Y.

The fiber surface 20a can be made of woven or knitted fabric. The fiber material can be nonwoven fabric, cut pile material, etc.

Cut pile material is preferred as the above-mentioned fiber material. Cut pile material is a fiber material in which the tips of the pile fiber loops that are raised toward the inner side from the ground yarn fixed to the inner side of the base are cut and raised. Since the tips of cut pile material are cut and raised, the fibers spread out radially toward the tip. Because the fibers spread out in this way and there are no gaps, it is difficult for fine chips or foreign objects to get inside.

The base can be made of metal, resin, or a combination of metal and resin. If the base is made of metal, it can be bent as needed to fit the shape of both ends of the rail X and the slider Y, so that it is easy to obtain a stable base with good adhesion. For example, aluminum or zinc can be used as the metal. If the base is made of resin, general-purpose plastics such as ABS resin, polyacetal resin (POM), engineering plastics such as polycarbonate polysulfone, and super engineering plastics can be used. Such plastic resins are light and do not easily restrict movement, and are not prone to excessive heat or force transmission, so they are highly durable. For example, a hot melt adhesive can be used to fix the base and the ground thread. The resin or metal is preferably one that can be molded in a mold, and for example, a metal base manufactured by aluminum-zinc die casting can be used.

When the cut pile material is based on knitted fabric, the ground yarn can be polyester fiber, and the pile fiber can be polyester hollow fiber. When the cut pile material is based on woven fabric, the ground yarn can be nylon, acrylic fiber, and the pile fiber can be rayon, acrylic-cotton fiber, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), perfluoroalkoxyalkane (PFA), polyester, berryma, and the like.

The diameter of the pile fibers is preferably 5 μm or more and 20 μm or less. The density of the pile fibers is preferably 500,000 or more and 1.5 million or less per square inch.

As a method of fixing the pile fibers (ground yarns) to the inner surface of the base, if the base is made of metal, the pile fibers can be directly adhered to a die-cast or metal cut part (base) that has been cut into a sticker shape with an adhesive or the like. If the base is made of resin such as engineering plastic, the pile fibers can be adhered to the base with double-sided tape, hot melt adhesive, or the like.

By using cut pile material, which is a high-density fiber, as the fiber material, it is possible to more effectively prevent chips and foreign matter from entering the sliding portion of the slider Y.

The lower limit of the average length of the fiber surface 20a in the sliding direction is preferably 1 mm, more preferably 2 mm, and even more preferably 5 mm. On the other hand, the upper limit of the average length of the fiber surface 20a is preferably 15 mm, and more preferably 10 mm. If the average length of the fiber surface 20a is less than the lower limit, it may not be possible to sufficiently prevent chips and foreign matter from entering the sliding portion of the slider Y. Conversely, if the average length of the fiber surface 20a exceeds the upper limit, the contact area increases and the frictional force increases, resulting in an excessive decrease in slidability, compared to the improvement in the effect of preventing the intrusion of chips and foreign matter.

Due to the characteristics of the fibers, when the fiber surface 20a is pressed against the sliding surface, it adheres closely to the shape of the surface. By adjusting the degree of adhesion, even extremely fine powder fluids with a diameter of less than 5 μm can be adequately sealed. The lower limit of the amount of pressing of the fiber surface 20a against the rail X is preferably 0.1 mm, and more preferably 0.5 mm. On the other hand, the upper limit of the amount of pressing is preferably 3 mm, and more preferably 2 mm. If the amount of pressing is less than the lower limit, it may not be possible to adequately prevent chips and foreign matter from entering the sliding portion of the slider Y. Conversely, if the amount of pressing is more than the upper limit, the frictional force may increase, resulting in a decrease in slidability.

The method for attaching the textile seal portion 20 to the cutout surface 10a of the support 10 is not particularly limited, and it can be fixed, for example, with a hot melt adhesive or double-sided tape.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3, the textile seal part 20 may have one or more protruding pieces 20b protruding in the sliding direction from the plate surface of the support 10, and the one or more protruding pieces 20b may be arranged on one or both sides in the sliding direction. By providing the textile seal part 20 with the protruding pieces 20b in this way, for example, the protruding pieces 20b can be bent so as to overlap the plate surface of the support 10 as shown in FIG. 3, and the protruding pieces 20b can be sandwiched between the support 10 and the rubber seal part 30 and attached to the slider Y, thereby physically fixing the textile seal part 20 to the support 10. It is preferable to use this attachment method in combination with chemical fixing using an adhesive or the like. If the adhesiveness of the chemical fixation is reduced for some reason, there is a risk that the textile seal part 20 will fall off the support 10 and get caught in the sliding part. If the textile seal part 20 is physically fixed to the support 10 by the protruding pieces 20b, such a bite can be prevented.

A lubricant may be held between the fibers of the fiber material. Fiber materials can easily hold a sufficient amount of lubricant between the fibers. By making the fiber seal portion 20 wet in this way, the lubricant can be replenished by allowing the lubricant to seep out between the rail X and the slider Y every time the slider Y slides, so that the airtightness can be maintained for a longer period of time.

<Rubber seal>
2, the rubber seal portion 30 is in a sheet shape and is disposed on the plate surface of the support 10 facing the end of the slider Y. The rubber seal portion 30 includes a rubber material that slidably contacts the peripheral surface of the rail X. Note that, in the example of FIG. 2, the rubber seal portion 30 is made of a rubber material, but it is also possible for only the portion that contacts the rail X to be made of a rubber material.

With the above-mentioned configuration, the rubber seal portion 30 and the textile seal portion 20 are arranged in this order from the side closest to the end of the slider Y. With this arrangement, the textile seal portion 20 prevents chips and foreign matter from entering the inside, and prevents the rubber seal portion 30 located on the inside from being torn by chips and foreign matter. The rubber seal portion 30 effectively prevents coolant from entering the sliding portion of the slider Y. Therefore, the sealing material 1 can effectively prevent coolant, in addition to chips and foreign matter, from entering the sliding portion of the slider Y for a long period of time.

The rubber material is preferably urethane rubber or silicone rubber. By using urethane rubber or silicone rubber as the rubber material, resistance to swelling caused by coolant is increased, and sealing performance is less likely to deteriorate.

Among these, thermosetting urethane rubber is more preferable as the rubber material. By using thermosetting urethane rubber as the rubber material, durability is increased, making it easier to maintain sealing performance for a long period of time.

Like the support 10, the rubber seal portion 30 preferably has at least its upper edge and side edges conforming to the shape of the end of the slider Y. It also preferably has a through hole at a position corresponding to the through hole 10b of the support 10. By providing a through hole in the rubber seal portion 30 in this way, the support 10 and the rubber seal portion 30 can be screwed in place with the same screw.

The lower limit of the average thickness of the rubber seal portion 30 (average thickness of the rubber material) is preferably 0.3 mm, more preferably 0.5 mm. On the other hand, the upper limit of the average thickness of the rubber seal portion 30 is preferably 3.0 mm, more preferably 1.5 mm, and even more preferably 1.0 mm. If the average thickness of the rubber seal portion 30 is less than the above lower limit, the strength may be insufficient. Conversely, if the average thickness of the rubber seal portion 30 exceeds the above upper limit, the rubber seal portion 30 may not be able to move along the rail X due to insufficient flexibility, and the coolant may not penetrate into the sliding portion of the slider Y insufficiently. In addition, the sliding resistance when the rubber seal portion 30 abuts against the rail X may increase, and the sliding load on the machine tool may become too high.

It is preferable that the rubber material protrudes toward the rail X side from the fiber surface 20a of the fiber seal part 20. The rubber seal part 30 is attached from the outside of the sliding direction of the end of the slider Y. If the rubber material protrudes toward the rail X side from the fiber surface 20a of the fiber seal part 20, the protruding portion of the rubber material is attached to the end of the slider Y from the outside of the sliding direction with the protruding portion abutting the rail X. Therefore, the protruding portion of the rubber material faces outward in the sliding direction. Then, this protruding portion slips under the fiber surface 20a and is fixed in a state where its tip faces outward in the sliding direction of the end of the slider Y. And, by having the tip face outward in the sliding direction of the end of the slider Y, cutting chips, foreign matter, and coolant can be swept outward in the sliding direction, so that it is possible to effectively prevent these from entering the sliding part of the slider Y.

<Advantages>
The sealing material 1 has a fibrous surface 20a made of a fibrous material that slidably contacts the peripheral surface of the rail X. The sealing material 1 can prevent chips and foreign matter from entering the sliding portion of the slider Y by the fibers of the fibrous surface 20a. In addition, the fibers of the fibrous surface 20a are in line contact with the sliding surface of the rail X, and therefore have lower friction and are less likely to wear out than conventional sealing materials that make surface contact. Furthermore, due to the cushioning properties of the fibers, the fibrous surface 20a is less likely to be scratched or torn even when it directly hits chips or foreign matter, and the sealing properties are maintained. Therefore, the sealing material 1 can prevent chips and foreign matter from entering the sliding portion of the slider Y for a long period of time.

[Method of attaching sealing material (1)]
A first method for mounting the sealing material 1 of the present invention to the slider Y will be described. This method for mounting the sealing material can be carried out when replacing the support 10 of the sealing material 1, including the fiber seal portion 20 attached to the support 10. In other words, the method for mounting the sealing material is performed with the rubber seal portion 30 still fitted to the rail X. When replacing the support 10, it is necessary to first remove the support 10, but since it can be removed by performing the mounting procedure in reverse, only the method for mounting the support 10 will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 7, the method for installing the sealing material includes an inner frame fitting process S1, an inner frame engagement process S2, an outer frame fitting process S3, a fitting process S4, and a fixing process S5.

<Inner frame fitting process>
In the inner frame fitting step S1, the inner frame 11 is bent to the bending position and fitted onto the rail X from above.

Specifically, the connection portion 11c of the inner frame 11 is bent using the apex of the V-shaped notch 11d as the base point to produce the state shown in Figure 5, and then fitted into the rail X from above as shown in Figure 8.

<Inner frame engagement process>
In the inner frame engaging step S2, after the inner frame fitting step S1, the connection portion 11c is returned to its normal unbent position, thereby engaging the inner frame 11 with the rail X so that it cannot be inserted or removed.

Specifically, the bent connection portion 11c is returned from the state shown in FIG. 8 to the state shown in FIG. 4. Then, the pair of arms 11b clamp the circumferential surface of the rail X from the left and right directions, making it impossible for the inner frame 11 to be inserted or removed from the rail X.

<Outer frame fitting process>
In the outer frame fitting step S3, the outer frame 12 is fitted onto the rail X from above.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, the outer frame 12 is fitted from above onto the rail X at a position on the outer side in the sliding direction relative to the slider Y than the inner frame 11 that is already engaged with the rail X.

The order of the inner frame engagement step S2 and the outer frame fitting step S3 does not matter, and it is also possible to perform the outer frame fitting step S3 first. In this case, in the inner frame engagement step S2, the inner frame 11 is fitted into a position between the slider Y and the outer frame 12.

<Mating process>
In the fitting step S4, after the inner frame engaging step S2 and the outer frame fitting step S3, the inner frame 11 and the outer frame 12 are fitted together.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, for example, the outer frame 12 is moved in the direction of the slider Y, and the inner frame 11 is fitted into the outer frame 12 to form the support body 10.

<Fixing process>
In the fixing step S5, after the fitting step S4, the support 10 having the inner frame 11 and the outer frame 12 is fixed to the end of the slider Y.

Specifically, the support 10 is further moved toward the slider Y until it abuts against the slider Y, and then a screw is passed through the through hole 10b to fix it to the slider Y together with the rubber seal portion 30.

<Advantages>
The method of attaching the sealing material uses the sealing material 1 of the present invention, so that the inner frame 11 and the outer frame 12 can be inserted from above the rail X and then fitted together to attach the sealing material to the end of the slider Y. Therefore, when replacing the support part of the sealing material 1, it is not necessary to disassemble the machine tool, such as by opening the end of the rail X. Therefore, compared to the case where the sealing material 1 is fitted from the end of the rail X along the sliding direction, the handling is improved, and the fiber seal part 20 can be prevented from being damaged when the sealing material 1 is attached.

[Method of attaching sealing material (2)]
A second sealing material mounting method for mounting the sealing material 1 of the present invention to the slider Y will be described. In the first sealing material mounting method, the falling-out prevention surface 12b of the outer frame 12 is located on the outer side in the sliding direction with respect to the slider Y, and the inner frame 11 is fitted into the outer frame 12 from the inner side in the sliding direction, whereas in the second sealing material mounting method, as shown in Fig. 11, the falling-out prevention surface 12b of the outer frame 12 is located on the inner side in the sliding direction with respect to the slider Y, and the inner frame 11 is fitted into the outer frame 12 from the outer side in the sliding direction.

This method of mounting the sealant can be carried out when replacing only the inner frame 11 of the support 10 of the sealant 1, including the textile seal portion 20 attached to the inner frame 11. That is, in this method of mounting the sealant, the rubber seal portion 30 and the outer frame 12 are fixed to the end of the slider Y. To replace the inner frame 11, it is first necessary to remove the inner frame 11, but since it can be removed by reversing the mounting procedure, only the method of mounting the inner frame 11 will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 12, the method of attaching the sealing material includes an inner frame fitting step S1 in which the inner frame 11 is bent to the bending position and fitted from above into the rail X, an inner frame engagement step S2 in which the inner frame 11 is returned to the normal position after the inner frame fitting step S1, thereby engaging the inner frame 11 so that it cannot be inserted or removed from the rail X, and an inner frame fitting step S4 in which the inner frame 11 is fitted into the outer frame 12 after the inner frame engagement step S2.

The inner frame fitting step S1 and the inner frame engagement step S2 can be performed in the same procedure as the first sealing material installation method. After the inner frame engagement step S2, as shown in FIG. 13, the inner frame 11 is fitted on the slider Y outward in the sliding direction relative to the outer frame 12.

In the inner frame fitting process S4, specifically, the inner frame 11 is moved toward the slider Y and fitted into the outer frame 12 to form the support 10. Since the outer frame 12 is already fixed to the slider Y, fitting the inner frame 11 completes the replacement of the sealing material 1.

<Advantages>
The method of attaching the sealing material is easy to handle because it can be performed while the outer frame 12 is fixed to the end of the slider Y.

[Other embodiments]
The above-mentioned embodiment does not limit the configuration of the present invention. Therefore, the above-mentioned embodiment may omit, replace or add components of each part of the above-mentioned embodiment based on the description in this specification and common technical knowledge, and it should be understood that all of these are within the scope of the present invention.

In the above embodiment, the sealing material is described as having a support body, a textile sealing portion, and a rubber sealing portion, but the rubber sealing portion is not a required component, and the present invention also contemplates a sealing material composed of a support body and a textile sealing portion.

The sealing material of the present invention may also have other members disposed between the slider or on the outer surface side in the sliding direction (the surface side opposite the slider). An example of such other member is a grease retaining portion disposed between the slider and the sealing material to retain grease. By providing the grease retaining portion, it is possible to maintain the sliding properties of the slider for a long period of time.

In the above embodiment, the support body and the rubber seal part are screwed to the slider, but the method of fixing them to the slider is not limited to this. For example, they can also be fixed using an adhesive or the like.

In the above embodiment, the support has an inner frame and an outer frame, but the support is not limited to this configuration. For example, the support may be composed of a single member. In such a support, it can be attached to the slider by fitting it along the rail from the end of the rail.

In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, a single V-shaped notch 11d is located in the center of the connection portion 11c. However, as shown in FIG. 14, a single V-shaped notch 13d may be located offset to one side from the center of the connection portion 11c. By providing a notch 13d in such an offset position from the center, the rail X can be configured to be insertable and removable even if the opening angle α is small or the rail X is wide (the width of the top surface X1 is large; see FIG. 1). This improves the ease of handling of the inner frame 13.

It is also possible to provide multiple V-shaped notches 14d, as in the inner frame 14 shown in FIG. 15. In the inner frame 14 shown in FIG. 15, a pair of notches 14d are disposed offset to both sides (one side and the other side) from the center of the connection portion 11c. The pair of notches 14d are preferably disposed in symmetrical positions about the center. By providing a pair of notches 14d in this manner, the inner frame 14 can be easily replaced even when, for example, the groove portion X3 (see FIG. 1) of the rail X is deep or the space for replacing the inner frame 14 is limited.

In addition, in Figures 14 and 15, the same components as those in the inner frame 11 shown in Figure 4 are given the same reference numerals and their explanations are omitted.

As explained above, the sealing material of the present invention can prevent chips and foreign matter from entering the sliding portion of the slider for a long period of time.

1 Sealing material 10 Support 10a Notch surface 10b Through hole 11, 13, 14 Inner frame 11a Recess 11b Arm portion 11c Connection portion 11d, 13d, 14d Slit 12 Outer frame 12a Convex portion 12b Fall-off prevention surface 12c Recess 20 Fiber seal portion 20a Fiber surface 20b Projecting piece 30 Rubber seal portion X Rail X1 Top surface X2 Side surface X3 Groove portion Y Slider α Opening angle

Claims (8)

A sealing material for sealing an end portion of a slider in a sliding direction in a machine tool having a rail and a slider that slides on the rail, comprising:
A support member is plate-shaped and has a notched surface formed on its thickness surface so that the notched surface can fit around the rail;
A fabric seal portion disposed on the cutout surface ;
a sheet-shaped rubber seal portion disposed on a plate surface of the support member facing the end portion of the slider;
Equipped with
The textile seal portion has a textile surface made of a textile material,
The fiber surface is in slidable contact with the circumferential surface of the rail,
The rubber seal portion slidably contacts the circumferential surface of the rail,
The rubber material protrudes toward the rail side beyond the fiber surface . The sealing material according to claim 1, wherein the fiber material is a cut pile material. 3. The sealing material according to claim 1 , wherein the rubber material is a urethane rubber or a silicone rubber. 4. The sealing material according to claim 3 , wherein the rubber material is a thermosetting urethane rubber. The textile seal portion has one or more protruding pieces protruding in the sliding direction beyond the plate surface of the support body,
5. The sealing material according to claim 1, wherein the one or more protruding pieces are arranged on one or both sides in the sliding direction. A sealing material for sealing an end portion of a slider in a sliding direction in a machine tool having a rail and a slider that slides on the rail, comprising:
A support member is plate-shaped and has a notched surface formed on its thickness surface so that the notched surface can fit around the rail;
A fabric seal portion disposed on the cutout surface;
Equipped with
The textile seal portion has a textile surface made of a textile material,
The fiber surface is in slidable contact with the circumferential surface of the rail,
The support is
an inner frame having the cutout surface formed therein;
an outer frame configured to be able to fit with the inner frame from the sliding direction,
The above inner frame is
A pair of arms that sandwich the circumferential surface of the rail from the left and right directions;
a connecting portion that covers the peripheral surface of the rail from above and connects the pair of arm portions to each other,
A V-shaped notch having an apex on the cutout surface side is formed in the connection portion, and the connection portion can be bent using the apex as a base point,
When the connection portion is in a normal position where it is not bent, the inner frame cannot be inserted into or removed from the rail from above,
The inner frame is configured to be insertable into and removable from the rail from above at a bending position where the connection portion is bent,
The sealing material is configured so that the outer frame can be inserted into and removed from the rail from above. A method for attaching the seal according to claim 6 to the slider, comprising the steps of:
an inner frame fitting step of bending the inner frame to the bending position and fitting the inner frame into the rail from above;
an inner frame engaging step of returning the inner frame to the normal position after the inner frame fitting step, thereby engaging the inner frame so that it cannot be inserted or removed from the rail;
an outer frame fitting step of fitting the outer frame into the rail from above;
a fitting step of fitting the inner frame and the outer frame together after the inner frame engaging step and the outer frame fitting step;
a fixing step of fixing the support body having the inner frame and the outer frame to an end portion of the slider after the fitting step. A method for attaching the sealing material according to claim 6 , comprising the steps of:
The outer frame is fixed to an end of the slider,
an inner frame fitting step of bending the inner frame to the bending position and fitting the inner frame into the rail from above;
an inner frame engaging step of returning the inner frame to the normal position after the inner frame fitting step, thereby engaging the inner frame so that it cannot be inserted or removed from the rail;
an inner frame fitting step of fitting the inner frame to the outer frame after the inner frame engaging step.

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