JP2008069927A - Lubricant supply method, guide apparatus, and manufacturing apparatus including the same - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to supply a lubricant so as to minimize the required wear of individual members and the frictional resistance between members, and to ensure that the original function of the lubricant can be stably performed for a long period of time. It is an object of the present invention to provide a lubricant supply method, a guide device, and a manufacturing apparatus including the lubricant supply method capable of realizing performance enhancement and long life.
An orbital shaft having a surface on which a rolling element rolls, a rolling element is accommodated in the shaft, and is engaged with the orbital axis via the rolling element, and is relatively movable along the orbital axis. A first lubricant containing at least a base oil, a thickener, and an additive is supplied to the rolling elements with respect to the guide device including the members, and the base oil is supplied to the raceway shaft. And a lubricant supply method for supplying a second lubricant that is the same type as that of the first lubricant, and at least a thickener and an additive are the same components as the first lubricant.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a lubricant supply method for supplying two types of lubricants, a guide device, and a manufacturing apparatus including the same.

Generally, a guide device includes a track shaft having a surface on which a rolling element such as a bearing rolls, and a moving member that engages with the track shaft via the rolling member and is relatively movable along the track axis. Since it is configured and the guiding operation is based on rolling of a bearing or the like, the sliding resistance is low, and it is used in various machine tools and conveying devices.
In recent years, linear motion guide devices in various devices / machines such as a component mounting apparatus for mounting electronic components, a component insertion machine for inserting electronic components, a semiconductor mounting machine for joining semiconductor elements, and a component processing machine for processing components. Thus, a high-speed operation of 1 m / second or more is realized.

  In such a guide device, a lubricant is usually applied to reduce the wear of the bearing itself and the wear of the raceway shaft surface on which the bearing rolls. Especially for guide devices used at high speeds, the agitation resistance of the lubricant increases on the lubrication surface, and the mileage per operating time increases, so a lubricant with good lubrication performance can be stably supplied over a long period of time. Is important to prolong its life.

Therefore, for example, a method of supplying a lubricant to a ball bearing incorporated in a linear guide (for example, Patent Document 1), a lubricant is supplied to a ball bearing incorporated in a ball screw shaft through a grease supply nipple. A method (for example, Patent Document 2), a method for increasing the viscosity of a lubricant supplied to a lubricating surface, and adding an oil film reinforcing agent for oil film reinforcement in the lubricant (for example, Patent Document 3), an existing track Various methods such as a method of additionally attaching a lubricant supply device to the shaft (for example, Patent Document 4) have been proposed.
According to these methods, the lubricant can be supplied over a long period of time between the ball bearing portion or the raceway shaft or the ball screw and the moving member.

JP-A-3-121310 JP 11-34136 A JP 2003-222127 A JP 2004-3544 A

  Generally, a lubricant having a relatively low viscosity is used as a lubricant for the ball bearing in order to make the fine ball bearing move smoothly. Further, the lubricant used between the track shaft or the screw and the slide member has a lower viscosity so that the performance in a high speed region can be exhibited. These lubricants are usually composed of base oils, thickeners, additives and / or fillers. Therefore, each lubricant supplied to the ball bearing and between the raceway shaft / screw and the slide member has various types in order to adjust the viscosity, characteristics, etc. from the difference in basic motion of the target member, Different compositions are used.

  However, when lubricants appropriately adjusted for the ball bearings and between the raceway shaft / screw and the slide member are used, at the beginning, each lubricant is used between the ball bearings, the raceway shaft / screw. Smooth movement of each member between the sliding member and the expected function is fully demonstrated, but on the other hand, when used for a long period of time, rust and wear of the raceway shaft, bearing wear, etc. are sufficiently reduced Or they may increase over time, and face the phenomenon of unexpectedly shortening the life of ball bearings, track shafts / screws, slides, and thus guides. ing.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and minimizes wear of individual members and frictional resistance between members required for the guide device, and maximizes the original function of the lubricant used. A lubricant supply method, a guide device, and a manufacturing apparatus provided with the lubricant supply method capable of supplying a lubricant so that it can be stably exhibited for a long period of time and realizing high performance and long life of the guide device itself The purpose is to provide.

  As a result of intensive research on friction loss between various members, components of lubricants, etc. in order to solve the above-described problems, the present inventor has developed a ball bearing in order to meet the required characteristics within one unit. When using two different types of lubricants, for use between the track shaft / screw and the slide member, these lubricants are mixed by contact, friction, etc. between the various members. By causing a phenomenon in which the thickeners, additives, and the like contained in the lubricant reduce / modify their properties, and the mixed lubricant continues to contact various members in an extreme pressure state, The present inventors have newly found out that a phenomenon that further deteriorates the characteristics of the present invention has been completed, and thus the present invention has been completed.

The lubricant supply method of the present invention includes a raceway shaft having a surface on which the rolling elements roll,
With respect to a guide device configured to house the rolling element therein, engage with the track axis via the rolling element, and include a moving member relatively movable along the track axis.
Supplying the first lubricant containing at least a base oil, a thickener and an additive to the rolling elements,
A second lubricant in which base oil is the same type as that of the first lubricant, and at least a thickener and an additive are the same components as the first lubricant is provided on the rolling surface of the track shaft. It is characterized by supplying.

In this lubricant supply method, it is preferable that the second lubricant has a consistency higher than that of the first lubricant. In the present invention, “consistency” is a numerical value of the penetration of JIS-K2220.7, and “high consistency” indicates that the numerical value of the penetration is high and soft.
Further, the base oil of the first lubricant and the second lubricant can be either a hydrocarbon base oil, a fluorinated base oil or a silicon base oil.

Furthermore, the guide device of the present invention includes a track axis having a surface for rolling the rolling element,
The rolling element is housed therein, is engaged with the track shaft via the rolling element, and is disposed on the moving member that is relatively movable along the track axis. First lubricant supply means for supplying a first lubricant comprising at least a base oil, a thickener and an additive;
The base oil is the same type as the first lubricant, and at least the thickener and the additive are the same components as the first lubricant on the rolling surface of the track shaft. And a second lubricant supply means for supplying a second lubricant.
In this guide device, a linear guide device or a ball screw guide device is suitable.
Furthermore, the manufacturing apparatus of the present invention is characterized by mounting the above-described guide device.

  According to the lubricant supply method of the present invention, by supplying the first lubricant and the second lubricant in which the base oil is the same type and at least the thickener and the additive are the same component, The wear of the individual members required for the guide device and the frictional resistance between the members can be minimized, and the original function of the lubricant used can be stably exhibited for a long period of time.

The guide device according to the present invention includes at least a rolling element, a track axis having a surface on which the rolling element rolls, and a moving member relatively movable along the track axis. Any form is included.
Here, examples of the rolling element include a ball bearing, a roller, and a ball screw. Examples of the track axis include a track rail, a screw shaft, and a spline shaft. Examples of the moving member include a slide base, a nut member, and a sleeve main body.

  Specifically, a linear guide device (for example, refer to JP-A-2005-221008, JP-A-2003-222127, etc.) and a ball screw guide device (for example, JP-A-2003-222127, JP-A-2004-169789). Various publications can be used, such as those described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 11-34136, etc.

In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the guide device 10 of the present invention is a ball screw guide device 20 described later or the ball screw guide device 20 so that the X axis 11 can move in the Y axis direction. The linear guide 30 can be used. In the latter, it is preferable to arrange the track axes in parallel so as to support the operation linked to the moving member. A plurality of linear guide devices and / or ball screw guide devices may be used side by side.
The present invention includes a guide device in which the track shaft is the fixed side and the moving member is the moving side, and the track shaft is the moving side and the moving member is the fixed side.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the ball screw guide device has a screw shaft extending as a track shaft 21 in the longitudinal direction, and a spiral as a rolling surface 21 a of the rolling element 22 on the outer peripheral surface of the screw shaft. -Shaped rolling grooves. Further, a rolling element circulation path 24 including a spiral load rolling groove as a rolling surface of the rolling element 22 is formed on the inner peripheral surface so as to correspond to the spiral rolling groove, and the track shaft 21. It has the movement member 23 engaged with relative movement freely. A load rolling path 24 of the rolling element circulation path is configured between the rolling groove of the rolling element 22 of the track shaft 21 and the groove of the moving member 23. The rolling element 22 is housed in the rolling element circulation path so as to roll in the circumferential direction in the load rolling path 24 in accordance with the relative movement, that is, rotation of the track shaft 21 and the moving member 23, and to circulate infinitely.

In this ball screw guide device 20, it is optionally mounted / formed with a first lubricant supply portion 25 and a supply port 25 a for supplying the lubricant to the rolling element 22 on the moving member 23. Good. The first circulating agent supply unit 25 is preferably mounted on the rolling surface of the rolling element 22 in the moving member 23, in other words, so as to supply the lubricant to the infinite circulation path.
Further, a second lubricant supply device 26 capable of supplying a lubricant to the rolling surface 21 a of the rolling element 22 of the track shaft 21 and a supply port 26 a thereof are provided at the front and / or rear ends of the moving member 23. It is preferable that it is mounted.

In general, the ball screw guide device 20 is provided with a driving means (for example, a motor or the like) (see 27 in FIG. 1) for driving the shaft 21 at one end of the track shaft 21.
Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, in the linear guide device, a track rail is extended in the longitudinal direction as a track shaft 31, and a ball bearing as a rolling element 32 is provided on a side surface of the track shaft 31. A rolling surface 31a is formed.

  A moving member 33 is engaged with the track shaft 31 via a rolling element 32. The moving member 33 extends inside the moving member 33 as a rolling surface of the rolling element 32 corresponding to the rolling surface 31a of the track shaft 31, and includes an infinite circulation path 34 for circulating the rolling element 32. It is configured as a substantially saddle-shaped unit. A rolling element 32 is accommodated in the infinite circulation path 34, and the moving member 33 is configured to reciprocate on the track shaft 31 as the rolling element 32 circulates.

In this linear guide device 30, the lubricant is supplied to the rolling element 32, optionally in the moving member 33 or in addition to the moving member 33, more specifically connected to the infinite circulation path 34 of the moving member 33. It is preferable that a first lubricant supply unit (not shown) and its supply port 35 are formed / mounted.
Further, a second lubricant supply for supplying a lubricant to the rolling surface 31a of the track shaft 31 in accordance with the movement of the moving member 33 at the front and / or rear end of the moving member 33 in the moving direction. The part 36 and its supply port 36a are preferably mounted.

  In these configurations, the first and second lubricant supply units include, for example, an application body that applies the lubricant to the rolling elements or the rolling surfaces of the rolling elements of the track shaft, and the lubricant. It can be comprised from the occlusion body which supplies a lubricant with respect to an application body while absorbing and holding, and the oil quantity adjusting plate which isolate | separates between these application bodies and an occlusion body. The application body can be formed of a material that easily causes the lubricant to move due to capillary action so that the impregnating lubricant can be applied to the raceway shaft without stagnation. The occlusion body can be formed of a material that absorbs and holds a large amount of lubricant. The oil amount adjusting plate can be formed by, for example, a thin plate in which a supply hole for supplying the lubricant impregnated in the occlusion body to the application body is formed.

  The rolling surface / groove is preferably a surface / groove in which the rolling element contacts the track axis not in point contact but in a curved surface unit. In particular, in the ball screw guide device, it is suitable to use a screw groove formed on the outer surface of the track shaft.

  The first and second lubricants in the present invention include both liquid so-called lubricating oil and semi-solid so-called grease. These comprise at least a base oil, a thickener and additives, and optionally a filler. These components are preferably mixed and used in an appropriate ratio according to the type, performance, required viscosity, consistency, supply method, and the like of the guide device to be used.

  As the base oil, either mineral oil or synthetic oil may be used. Here, the mineral oil may be obtained by a method usually used in a lubricant manufacturing process in the oil refining industry, for example, a solvent fraction obtained from a lubricant fraction obtained by distilling crude oil in vacuum from normal pressure. Examples include refractory, solvent extraction, hydrocracking, solvent dewaxing, hydrorefining, sulfuric acid washing, clay treatment, and the like. Specifically, turbine oil, spindle oil, machine oil, etc. are illustrated as hydrocarbon oil.

As a synthetic oil, for example, as a classification by type,
(1) Hydrocarbons (for example, poly α-olefins such as polybutene, 1-octene oligomer, 1-decene oligomer, or hydrides thereof; alkyl aromatic compounds such as alkylnaphthalene and alkylbenzene; alicyclic compounds, etc.) ,
(2) Esters (for example, diesters such as ditridecyl glutarate, di-2-ethylhexyl adipate, diisodecyl adipate, ditridecyl adipate, di-3-ethylhexyl sepacate; trimethylolpropane caprylate, trimethylolpropane Polyol esters such as pelargonate, pentaerythritol-2-ethylhexanoate, pentaerythritol pelargonate),
(3) Polyether type (for example, polyglycol; polyoxyalkylene glycol; phenyl ether type such as polyphenyl ether, alkyl diphenyl ether dialkyl diphenyl ether),
(4) phosphorus compound system (for example, aromatic phosphate ester),
(5) Silicon compound type (for example, silicone),
(6) Halogen compounds (for example, fluorinated polyether)
It is roughly classified into examples. In other words, this classification can be broadly divided into hydrocarbon components and non-hydrocarbon components such as phosphorus, halogen or silicon.

  In the present invention, the same type of base oil means that the above-mentioned hydrocarbons (including mineral oils, esters, ethers), non-hydrocarbon components having the same contained atoms (silicon compounds, halogen compounds, etc.) ) Is preferable. Furthermore, it is preferable that it is mineral oil, the components of (1) mentioned above, the components of (2), ..., the components of (6), etc.

The base oil may be used alone or as a mixture of two or more.
The base oil is suitably contained in an amount of about 99 to 50% based on the total weight of the lubricant. Moreover, in order to adjust the viscosity as a lubricant to an appropriate range, the viscosity of the base oil is preferably about 5 to 100 mm ² / s at 100 ° C., for example.

  As the thickener, a grease that is conventionally used for a guide device, other bearings, and the like, and any of soap type and non-soap type can be used. As soap, metal soaps such as calcium soap (including beef tallow and castor oil), aluminum soap, sodium soap, lithium soap (including tallow and castor oil); calcium complex, aluminum complex, sodium complex, lithium A complex soap system such as a complex is exemplified. Examples of non-soap systems include urea systems such as aromatic diurea, aliphatic diurea, alicyclic diurea, triurea, and polyurea; organic systems such as sodium terephthalate and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE); organic bentonite, graphite, And inorganic systems such as silica gel.

  In the present invention, the same component of the thickener means that the main component of the thickener (usually a component contained in 80% or more of the total weight) is the same. Specifically, it means calcium soaps, aluminum complexes, aromatic diureas and the like. In particular, in the case of a composite type, it is between specific complexes, aromatic, aliphatic and alicyclic components are specific, organic components are specific organic components, and inorganic components are More preferably, they are specific inorganic components. As long as the components are the same, the content and content ratio may be different between the first and second lubricants.

The thickener may be used alone or as a mixture of two or more.
The thickener is suitably contained in an amount of about 2 to 20% based on the total weight of the lubricant. Alternatively, from another viewpoint, the thickener has a consistency of the lubricant itself of about 100 to 400 in the first lubricant, preferably 200 to 200, depending on the type and composition of the base oil and other additives used. It is suitable to use an amount of about 300 and about 200 to 500, preferably about 300 to 500 for the second lubricant.

  Additives include antioxidants (for example, phenols, aromatic amines, etc.), extreme pressure additives (for example, SP-based, sulfurized fats, organometallic compounds, etc.), rust inhibitors (for example, metal sulfonates, Lanolin derivatives, etc.), structural stabilizers (eg, fatty acids, fatty acid esters, etc.), corrosion inhibitors (eg, benzotriazole, etc.), wear reducing agents (eg, phosphate esters, dithiocarbamate esters, etc.), miscibility agents. (For example, fatty acid, fatty acid glycerol, etc.), life improver (organic sulfonate: for example, metal sulfonate such as calcium salt and zinc salt, non-metal sulfonate such as ammonium salt, etc.) and the like.

  In the present invention, that the components of the additive are the same means that the main component of the additive (usually a component that is contained in 80% or more of the total weight) is the same. Specifically, it is more preferable that the specific phenols of the antioxidants, the specific organometallic compounds of the extreme pressure additive, the specific lanolin derivatives of the rust inhibitor, and the like. Thus, as long as the components are the same, the content and content ratio may be different between the first and second lubricants.

An additive may be used independently and may be used also as a 2 or more types of mixture.
The additive is suitably contained in an amount of about 1 to 10% based on the total weight of the lubricant.

Fillers include graphite, molybdenum disulfide, cobalt chloride, antimony oxide, niobium selenide, tungsten disulfide, mica, boron nitride, silver sulfate, cadmium chloride, cadmium iodide, borax, basic white lead, lead carbonate , Lead iodide, asbestos, talc, zinc oxide, carbon, babit, bronze, brass, aluminum, gallium, indium, thallium, thorium, copper, silver, gold, mercury, lead, tin, indium or Group VIII noble metals or those Inorganic solid lubricants containing a mixture of, Examples thereof include organic solid lubricants containing nanthrene, copper phthalocyanine or a mixture thereof. A filler may be used independently and may be used also as a 2 or more types of mixture.
The filler is suitably contained in the total weight of the lubricant in an amount of about 40% or less for the inorganic solid lubricant and about 5% or less for the organic solid lubricant.

  In the lubricant supply method of the present invention, the first lubricant is supplied to the rolling elements in the moving member constituting the guide device. The supply method in this case is not particularly limited and may be supplied manually, but for example, it is preferable to supply using the first lubricant supply unit described above. In addition, as long as the 1st lubricant can be supplied to a rolling element, you may supply to any of the rolling surface in a moving member, or an infinite circuit.

  Further, the second lubricant is supplied to the track axis constituting the guide device, more precisely, to the rolling surface of the track axis. The second lubricant is required to have the same type of base oil as the first lubricant and at least the same thickener and additive as the first lubricant. By adopting such a configuration, changes in characteristics of the base oil, thickener, various additives, etc., especially changes with time can be minimized. That is, it is possible to prevent a phenomenon that is likely to occur when the type or component of the base oil, the thickener, various additives, or the like is different, and the performance is pulled toward the lower performance. As a result, an oil film can be satisfactorily formed on the rolling element surface, the rolling surface of the raceway shaft, and the rolling surface of the moving member that require lubrication performance, and abnormal wear occurs in the lubricant in a short period of time. Can be prevented. Therefore, the sliding stability of the guide device is not impaired, and the life can be extended. In addition, even when used in a high speed region, it is possible to effectively prevent an increase in the agitation resistance of the lubricant, and it is possible to prevent an increase in the rolling resistance of the rolling elements, particularly an increase in the temperature of the ball screw or the like.

  The second lubricant preferably has a higher consistency than the first lubricant. Thereby, the lubricant supplied to the track shaft can sufficiently exhibit the performance in the high speed region. In general, the first lubricant is not particularly limited, but since the consistency is about 100 to 400, preferably about 200 to 300, the second lubricant has a consistency of about 200 to 500, preferably About 300 to 500, and preferably about 400 to 500 are preferable. From another viewpoint, the consistency of the second lubricant is preferably about 100 to 300, and more preferably about 150 to 250, higher than the consistency of the first lubricant.

The method of supplying the second lubricant is not particularly limited, and may be supplied manually, but for example, it is preferable to supply using the above-described second lubricant supply unit. In addition, as long as the 2nd lubricant can be supplied to a track axis, you may supply to any of the rolling surface or rolling groove of a rolling element in a track axis. The timing of supplying the second lubricant is not particularly limited, and may coincide with the timing of supplying the first lubricant, and may be before or after the supply of the first lubricant. May be. Further, during the period of use, the first and second lubricants may be supplied only once, a plurality of times, or the supply frequency or the number of times of both may be different.
The supply amounts of the first and second lubricants can be appropriately adjusted according to the configuration, size, use cycle, use mode, and the like of the guide device used.

In the present invention, a manufacturing apparatus configured by mounting the above-described guide device is not particularly limited. For example, a component mounting apparatus for mounting an electronic component or the like, a component insertion machine for inserting an electronic component or the like, Various devices such as a semiconductor mounting machine that joins semiconductor elements, a component processing machine that processes components, a transport / supply machine that transports / supplis components, and the like, and a system that includes these devices are included.
Below, the Example of the lubricant supply method of this invention is described in detail.

(Preparation of first and second lubricants)
A first lubricant having a composition shown in Table 1 and a second lubricant having a composition shown in Table 2 were prepared. The load bearing performance, rust prevention performance, and consistency of each obtained lubricant are also shown.
The load bearing performance was measured by a four-ball seizure test according to JIS-K2519.
Rust prevention performance was performed based on a salt spray test (JIS Z2371).
The consistency was measured at 25 ° C. according to JIS-K2220.7.

(Examples and Comparative Examples)
For the first lubricant shown in Table 1 and the second lubricant shown in Table 2, as described above, in the guide device composed of the track shaft and the moving member containing the rolling elements, In order to evaluate the influence of the mixing of the first and second lubricants when the lubricant is supplied to the rolling elements and the second lubricant is supplied to the raceway shaft and the guide device is operated, The second lubricant was mixed at 1: 1, and its load bearing performance, rust prevention performance and consistency were measured. The results are shown in Table 3.

  According to Table 3, as in the present invention shown in the examples, in the first lubricant and the second lubricant, the base oil is the same type, and at least the thickener and the additive are the same component. In addition, a significant increase in the consistency, mainly governed by base oils and thickeners, is not observed, and unexpected or unintended changes in consistency can be prevented. In addition, the additive can be sufficiently exerted without reducing the intended properties of the additive, such as being resistant to rust and having high load resistance. As a result, seizure of the track shaft, rolling elements, moving member, and the like can be prevented, and wear and the like thereof can be sufficiently reduced. As a result, it is possible to extend the life of the guide device.

  The lubricant supply method of the present invention is provided with a guide device, and all devices and systems that can realize various manufacturing, processing, processing, transport, movement, etc., for example, electronic component mounting devices, industrial robots, fine device mounting devices, It can be used for medical equipment, inspection / measurement system, industrial equipment that realizes fine process.

It is a perspective view of the principal part which shows one Example of the guide apparatus of this invention. It is a perspective view of the principal part which shows another Example of the guide apparatus of this invention. It is a perspective view of the principal part which shows another Example of the guide apparatus of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Guide apparatus 11 X-axis 20 Ball screw guide apparatus 30 Linear guide apparatus

Claims (6)

A track axis having a surface on which the rolling elements roll,
With respect to a guide device configured to house the rolling element therein, engage with the track axis via the rolling element, and include a moving member relatively movable along the track axis.
Supplying the first lubricant containing at least a base oil, a thickener and an additive to the rolling elements,
Supplying to the track shaft a second lubricant in which the base oil is the same type as the first lubricant, and at least the thickener and the additive are the same components as the first lubricant. A lubricant supply method.   The lubricant supply method according to claim 1, wherein the second lubricant has a consistency higher than that of the first lubricant.   The lubricant supply method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the base oil of the first lubricant and the second lubricant is either a hydrocarbon base oil, a fluorinated base oil or a silicon base oil. . A track axis having a surface on which the rolling elements roll,
The rolling element is housed therein, is engaged with the track shaft via the rolling element, and is disposed on the moving member that is relatively movable along the track axis. A first lubricant supply section for supplying a first lubricant containing at least a base oil, a thickener and an additive;
A second oil is installed on the moving member, and the base oil is the same type as the first lubricant, and at least the thickener and the additive are the same components as the first lubricant. A guide device comprising a second lubricant supply unit for supplying a lubricant.   The guide device according to claim 4, wherein the guide device is a linear guide device or a ball screw guide device.   A manufacturing apparatus comprising the guide device according to claim 4.

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