JP2012082879A - Motion guide device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a motion guide device which eliminates the generation of a step at a connecting part between a load passage and a ball return passage on the block body side, and a direction changing path on an end plate side as far as possible and can more smoothly perform the endless circulation of balls in a movement block.SOLUTION: On the end plate, an outer circumferential side guide surface of the direction changing path is disposed and a ball guiding groove opposite to end openings of the load passage and the ball return passage is formed. On the other hand, on the end surface of a block body to which the end plate is mounted, a regulation plate which is located between the end opening of the load passage and the end opening of the ball return passage and inserted into the ball guiding groove is fixed. The regulation plate is retained in non-contact with the ball guiding groove of the end plate and has an inner circumferential side regulation surface constituting the direction changing path so as to oppose the outer circumferential side guide surface disposed on the end plate.

Description

  The present invention relates to a motion guide device in which a moving block having an infinite circulation path of a ball reciprocates freely along a track rail.

  As this type of motion guide device, for example, a linear guide device disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 6-58235 is known. This linear guide device is assembled to the track rail through a track rail formed with ball rolling grooves along the longitudinal direction and a number of balls rolling on the rolling groove, and the balls are infinitely circulated. A moving block having a path, and the ball rolls while applying a load between the moving block and the track rail, and circulates in the endless circulation path. Reciprocal movement can be performed relatively.

  The moving block includes a block main body, end plates fixed to the front and rear ends of the block main body in the moving direction, and a semicircular return piece disposed on the front and rear end faces of the block main body and covered by the end plate. It consists of and. The block main body has a load rolling groove facing the rolling groove of the track rail, and a load passage through which the ball rolls while applying a load is constituted by the load rolling groove and the rolling groove of the track rail. Has been. The block main body includes a ball return passage parallel to the load passage, and the ball return passage has an inner diameter set slightly larger than the ball diameter. That is, the ball rolls in the ball return passage in an unloaded state.

  The end plate and the return piece constitute a ball turning path. This direction change path is a curved path connecting the end opening of the load passage and the end opening of the ball return passage, and by disposing these end plates and return pieces at both ends of the block body, These end portions are connected to respective end portions of the corresponding ball return passages by direction change paths, so that an endless circulation path for the balls is completed in the moving block.

  The end plate is formed with an outer circumferential guide surface of the direction changing path, and the return piece is formed with an inner circumferential side guide surface of the direction changing path, and both the outer circumferential side guide surface and the inner circumferential side guide surface are formed. A cross section in a direction perpendicular to the rolling direction of the ball is formed in a substantially semicircular shape. For this reason, when both are combined so that the inner peripheral side guide surface of the return piece is opposed to the outer peripheral side guide surface of the end plate, a direction change path having a circular cross section with an inner diameter slightly larger than the ball diameter is completed. To do.

  The return piece is positioned by fitting into a recess formed in the end plate, and the inner peripheral guide surface of the return piece faces the outer peripheral guide surface of the end plate. Further, when the end plate fitted with the return piece is coupled to a predetermined position of the block body, the return piece is positioned between the load rolling groove formed in the block body and the ball return hole, The inner circumferential side guide surface of the piece is configured to be continuous with the load rolling groove of the block body at one end and to be continuous with the inner peripheral surface of the ball return hole at the other end.

  On the other hand, in the motion guide device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-317762, the end plate is not directly fixed to the end surface of the block body, but a plate made of synthetic resin to the end surface of the block body. The portion is previously injection-molded, and the end plate is fixed to the block body through the plate portion. In this case, the semicircular return piece constituting the direction changing path is formed together with the plate portion, and when the end plate is attached to the plate portion, the return portion is returned to the concave portion formed in the end plate. The pieces are fitted, and the inner peripheral side guide surface of the return piece is opposed to the outer peripheral side guide surface of the end plate.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-58235 JP 7-317762 A

  As described above, the inner circumferential guide surface of the return piece has a substantially semicircular cross section along the direction perpendicular to the ball rolling direction. In order to smoothly travel between the inner circumferential side and the inner circumferential side guide surface, it is important that the load rolling groove of the block body constituting the load passage is connected without a step. However, the edge of the guide piece on the inner periphery side of the return piece is a semicircular curve, and the edge of the load rolling groove is also a curved line, which is different from the case of matching straight lines. It is difficult to perfectly match the curves formed separately. This is not limited to the connection portion between the inner peripheral guide surface of the return piece and the load rolling groove of the block main body, but the same applies to the connection portion between the inner peripheral guide surface and the ball return hole of the block main body. .

  Further, as in the motion guide device disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-58235, the end plate is fixed to the block body after the return piece is fitted in the recess of the end plate. If the fixing of the return piece is not performed correctly, the return piece will not be positioned correctly with respect to the block body. In this respect, the edge of the inner peripheral guide surface of the return piece is completely aligned with the edge of the load rolling groove. It is difficult to match.

  In the case of the motion guide device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-317762, the return piece is formed on a plate portion that is directly injection-molded with respect to the block main body, and thus is caused by the fixing accuracy of the end plate to the plate portion. Thus, it is not assumed that the positioning accuracy of the return piece with respect to the block body deteriorates. However, the synthetic resin plate portion injection-molded with respect to the block main body does not necessarily have high dimensional accuracy due to shrinkage after the completion of molding, and the inner peripheral side guide surface of the molded return piece It is very difficult to match the shape at the edge with the shape at the edge of the load rolling groove of the block body.

  That is, for these reasons, in the conventional motion guide device, a step is likely to occur at the connecting portion between the inner guide surface of the return guide and the load rolling groove of the block body, and it is difficult to completely eliminate such a step. Met.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to allow generation of a step at a connection portion between the load passage on the block body side and the ball return passage and the direction change passage on the end plate side. An object of the present invention is to provide a motion guide device that can eliminate the problem as much as possible and can smoothly perform infinite circulation of a ball in a moving block.

  That is, the present invention has a track rail in which a rolling groove of a ball is formed along a longitudinal direction, an infinite circulation path of the ball, and is assembled to the track rail via a large number of balls. A movement block that is movable along the movement block, the movement block having a load rolling groove that constitutes a load path of the ball facing the rolling groove of the track rail, and the movement block. A block main body having a ball return passage parallel to the load passage, and a ball direction changing passage fixed to both front and rear ends of the block main body in the moving direction and connecting the load passage and the no-load passage in cooperation with the block main body. And a pair of end plates.

  The end plate is provided with an outer peripheral guide surface of the direction changing path and is formed with a ball guide groove facing the end openings of the load passage and the ball return passage, and the end plate is attached to the end plate. A restriction plate, which is inserted between the end opening of the load passage and the end opening of the ball return passage and is inserted into the ball guide groove, is fixed to the end surface of the block body. The restricting plate is maintained in non-contact with the ball guide groove of the end plate and has an inner peripheral restricting surface that constitutes the direction change path facing the outer peripheral guide surface provided on the end plate. is doing.

  According to the present invention as described above, the restriction plate constituting the direction change path in cooperation with the outer peripheral side guide surface of the end plate is fixed to the block body, and the restriction plate is formed on the end plate. Since it is not in contact with the ball guide groove, it is possible to accurately position the regulating plate at a predetermined position of the block body without being affected by the accuracy of fixing the end plate to the block body. As a result, the inner circumferential side regulation surface provided on the regulation plate can be made continuous with the load rolling groove and the ball return hole of the block main body without any step, and the infinite circulation of the ball in the moving block can be facilitated.

  Further, the ball guide groove of the end plate is formed with a width that is at least slightly larger than the diameter of the ball because the ball rolls therein, but the restriction plate fixed to the block body is the ball Although inserted into the guide groove, it is not in contact with the ball guide groove, and the thickness of the regulating plate is thinner than the width of the ball guide groove. For this reason, the width | variety of the inner peripheral side control surface formed in the control plate becomes narrow in the direction orthogonal to the rolling direction of a ball | bowl, and positioning with respect to the load rolling groove or ball return hole of a block main body becomes easy. Also in this respect, it is possible to make the infinite circulation of the ball in the moving block smooth by making the inner peripheral side restriction surface provided on the restriction plate continuous with the load rolling groove and the ball return hole of the block body without any step. It becomes.

It is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a motion guide device to which the present invention is applied. It is the II-II sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view of the exercise | movement guide apparatus which concerns on 1st embodiment. It is a disassembled perspective view of the exercise | movement guide apparatus which concerns on 1st embodiment, and shows the state which removed the control plate from the block main body. It is a perspective view which shows the end plate of the exercise | movement guide apparatus which concerns on 1st embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the ball | bowl guide member of the exercise | movement guide apparatus which concerns on 1st embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the combined state of the end plate and ball | bowl guide member which concern on 1st embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the positional relationship of the ball | bowl and the control plate in a direction change path. It is an enlarged view which shows the periphery of the control plate in the state which fixed the ball | bowl guide member with respect to the end surface of the block main body which concerns on 1st embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the operation | work which scrapes off the level | step difference of the inner peripheral side control surface of a control plate, and a load rolling groove. It is a side view which shows the ball | bowl coupling body applied to the exercise | movement guide apparatus of 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a top view of the ball | bowl coupling body shown in FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the block main body of the exercise | movement guide apparatus which concerns on 2nd embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the pipe member assembled | attached to the block main body of 2nd embodiment. It is an enlarged view which shows the periphery of the control plate in the state which fixed the ball | bowl guide member with respect to the end surface of the block main body which concerns on 2nd embodiment.

  Hereinafter, the motion guide device of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  1 and 2 show a first embodiment of a motion guide apparatus to which the present invention is applied. This motion guide apparatus is assembled to the track rail 1 through a long track rail 1 formed in a straight line and a large number of balls 3 as rolling elements, and a moving block having an infinite circulation path for these balls 3. 2, and the ball 3 circulates in the endless circulation path so that the moving block 2 straddles the track rail 1 and freely reciprocates on the track rail 1. ing.

  The track rail 1 is formed in a substantially rectangular cross section, and concave portions 10 are formed on both side surfaces thereof. As a result, a jetty 11 is formed on a shoulder portion of each side surface. Ball rolling grooves 12 are formed above and below each jetty 11, and four rolling grooves 12 are formed on the entire track rail. Each rolling groove 12 is inclined at an angle of 45 ° with respect to the bottom surface of the track rail 1, and the rolling groove 12 positioned above the jetty 11 faces obliquely upward at an angle of 45 °, while The rolling groove 12 located on the side faces obliquely downward at an angle of 45 °. The track rail 1 has fixing bolt mounting holes 13 formed at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction, and is used when the track rail 1 is laid on a mechanical device or the like. It should be noted that the arrangement of the rolling grooves 12 with respect to the track rail 1, the inclination angle, and the number of the grooves may be appropriately changed according to the load capacity required for the moving block 2.

  On the other hand, the moving block 2 has a guide groove that accommodates a part of the track rail 1 and is formed in a channel shape, and is arranged so as to straddle the track rail 1. As shown in the exploded perspective view of FIG. 3, the moving block 2 includes a metal block body 4 and a pair of synthetic resin end plates fixed to both end surfaces of the block body 4 with the block body 4 interposed therebetween. 5 and a ball guiding member 6 disposed between the block main body 4 and each end plate 5. As shown in FIG. 4, the ball guiding member 6 is directly fixed to the end surface of the block main body 4 by a fixing screw 60, and the end plate 5 is covered with the ball guiding member 6 so that the end plate 5 is covered with the end surface of the block main body 4. Fixed against. Reference numeral 50 denotes a mounting bolt for fastening the end plate 5 to the block body 4. 3 and 4 depict only one end plate 5 of the pair of end plates 5 attached to the block body 4, and the other end plate 5 is omitted. 3 and 4 are drawn with the ball 3 omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the block body 4 includes a horizontal portion 4a on which a mounting surface 41 such as a machine device is formed, and a pair of skirt portions 4b orthogonal to the horizontal portion 4a, and is formed in a substantially channel shape in cross section. Has been. A tap hole 42 into which the mounting surface 41 and the fixing bolt are screwed is formed in the horizontal portion, and a load rolling groove 43 in which the ball 3 rolls is formed inside each skirt portion 4b. . The rolling groove 12 of the track rail 1 and the load rolling groove 43 of the block body 4 are opposed to each other, and a load path through which the ball 3 rolls while applying a load between the moving block 2 and the track rail 1 is provided. Constitute. That is, four load rolling grooves 43 are formed in the block body 4. In this embodiment, the cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of each load rolling groove 43 has a circular arc shape with a slightly larger radius of curvature than the spherical surface of the ball 3, but the shape can be appropriately changed in design. it can. Each skirt portion 4b is formed with a ball return passage 44 corresponding to each load passage, and the ball 3 released from the load after rolling in the load passage rolls in a direction opposite to that in the load passage. It is supposed to run.

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 45 denotes a seal member that seals between the skirt portion 4 b of the block body 4 and the side surface of the track rail 1. Reference numeral 46 denotes a retainer plate screwed to the block body 4 to prevent the ball 3 from rolling off the load passage when the moving block 2 is extracted from the track rail 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the end plate 5, which is observed from the contact surface side with the block body 4. The end plate is formed with a plurality of ball guiding grooves 51 that constitute a direction change path of the ball 3. These ball guide grooves 51 correspond to the respective load rolling grooves 43 of the block body 4 and are formed at four locations on the end plate 5 so as to surround the track rail 1. Each ball guide groove 51 has a long hole-like opening so as to face the load passage and the ball return passage 44 of the block body 4, and has an outer peripheral guide surface 52 curved in a substantially U shape inside. The outer peripheral guide surface 52 guides the ball 3 between the load passage and the ball return passage 44, and changes the traveling direction of the ball 3 by 180 °. The end of the outer peripheral guide surface 52 facing the track rail 1 is slightly cut out to form a scooping portion 53, which rolls along the load passage while being in contact with the rolling groove 12 of the track rail 1. The balls 3 are accommodated in the ball guiding grooves 51 so as to ride on the scooping portion 53.

  On the other hand, FIG. 6 shows the ball guiding member 6. As described above, the ball guide member 6 is fixed to the end face of the skirt portion 4b of the block main body 4 by the fixing screw 60. The base plate 61 fixed to the block main body 4 and the base plate 61 erected vertically. The restriction plate 62 is constituted. The restriction plate 62 is inserted into the ball guide groove 51 of the end plate 5 and constitutes a direction change path of the ball 3 in cooperation with the outer peripheral guide surface 52 formed in the ball guide groove 51. In the ball guiding member 6 of the first embodiment, a pair of restricting plates 62 are erected with respect to the base plate 61, and one ball guiding member 6 corresponds to two ball guiding grooves formed on the end plate. is doing.

  The restriction plate 62 protrudes in a substantially semicircular shape with respect to the base plate 61, and the outer peripheral surface thereof is an inner peripheral restriction surface 63 that restricts the trajectory of the ball 3 in the direction change path. The inner circumferential regulation surface 63 faces the outer circumferential guide surface 52 of the end plate 5 with a gap slightly larger than the diameter of the ball 3. Then, the outer circumferential side guide surface 52 of the end plate 5 and the inner circumferential side regulating surface 63 of the regulating plate 62 face each other, whereby a direction changing path for guiding the ball 3 between the load path and the ball return path 44 is completed. To do. The regulating plate 62 is formed such that its thickness t is thinner than the width of the ball guiding groove 51 of the end plate 5, and even if the regulating plate 62 is inserted into the ball guiding groove 51, the regulating plate 52 remains in the ball guiding groove. It is non-contact with respect to the inner wall of 51.

  Such a ball guiding member 6 is manufactured, for example, by bending or forging a metal plate. The base plate 61 is provided with a through hole 64 of a fixing screw 60 for fixing the ball guiding member 6 to the block body 4, and a through hole 65 of a mounting bolt 50 for fixing the end plate 5 to the block body 4. Is provided. The ball guiding member 6 is not limited to a metal, and may be a molded synthetic resin material.

  FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state in which the end plate 5 and the ball guiding member 6 are combined. As shown in FIG. 5, the end plate 5 is formed with two accommodation grooves 54 for avoiding interference with the base plate 61 of the pair of ball guiding members 6. Therefore, when the ball guide members 6 are combined with the pair of end plates 5 as shown in FIG. 7, the ball guide members 6 are accommodated without protruding relative to the end plates 5. It can fix to the end surface of. Actually, after each ball guide member 6 is fixed to the end face of the block body 4, the end plate 5 is fixed to the block body 4, and the ball guide member 6 is not fixed to the block body 4 as shown in FIG. It is not combined with the end plate 5. The receiving groove 54 formed in the end plate 5 is formed to be slightly larger than the base plate 61 of the ball guiding member 6, and the end plate 5 is placed on the ball guiding member 6 fixed to the block main body 4 from the block. Even if fixed to the main body 4, each of the ball guiding member 6 and the end plate 5 is individually positioned with respect to the block main body 4.

  By combining the end plate 5 and the ball guide member 6 in this way, the outer peripheral side guide surface 52 of the end plate 5 and the inner peripheral side restricting surface 63 of the restricting plate 62 face each other, and the load passage of the block body 4 The direction change path 7 connecting the ball return path 44 is completed. Further, by fixing the end plate 5 and the ball guide member 6 to the block main body, the load passage of the block main body 4 and the ball return passage 44 are connected by the direction changing path 7, and the ball 3 is infinitely connected to the moving block 2. The circuit will be completed.

  FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a direction change path 7 that is completed by fixing the ball guiding member 6 and the end plate 5 to the block body 4, and the direction change path 7 is perpendicular to the rolling direction of the ball 3. Is cut along the line. As described above, the regulating plate 62 of the ball guiding member 6 is thinner than the width of the ball guiding groove 51 of the end plate 5, so that the regulating plate 62 is not in contact with the inner wall 55 of the ball guiding groove 51. Instead, spaces are formed on both sides of the restriction plate 62 between the inner wall 55 of the ball guiding groove 51. Even if such a space exists, the rolling path of the ball 3 in the direction change path 7 is restricted by the outer peripheral side guide surface 52 of the end plate 5 and the inner peripheral side restriction surface 63 of the restriction plate 62. The alignment state of the balls 3 in the direction change path 7 is not disturbed. That is, even when the width of the inner circumferential side regulating surface 63 is extremely small with respect to the width of the ball guiding groove 51, there is no problem with the rolling of the ball 3 in the direction change path 7, and in this sense, the regulating plate 62 The inner peripheral side regulating surface 63 may be of any type that can cause point contact between the balls 3 in the direction change path 7.

  In addition, the spaces formed on both sides of the restriction plate 62 can be used as a storage space for a lubricant such as grease, and the balls 3 that roll in the endless circulation path can be circulated even better. is there. Also from this point, the thickness of the restriction plate 62 may be extremely smaller than the width of the ball guide groove 51 of the end plate 5.

  FIG. 9 is an enlarged view showing the periphery of the regulation plate 62 in a state where the ball guiding member 6 is fixed to the end surface of the block body 4. In a state where the ball guide member 6 is fixed to the end surface of the block body 4, the restriction plate 62 of the ball guide member 6 is positioned between the end opening of the load passage 40 and the end opening of the ball return passage 44 of the block body 4. The inner circumferential side regulation surface 63 formed on the regulation plate 62 matches the end of the load rolling groove 43 and the end of the ball return passage 44, respectively.

  A one-dot chain line in FIG. 9 indicates a ball guide groove 51 formed in the end plate 5. As can be seen from this figure, the width w of the ball guiding groove 51 has a groove width slightly larger than the diameter of the ball 3 because the ball 3 rolls in the inside thereof. The thickness t is set to be narrower than the groove width w of the ball guiding groove 51. Thus, by setting the thickness t of the restriction plate 62 smaller than the groove width w of the ball guiding groove 51 of the end plate 5, the inner peripheral restriction surface 63 and the load rolling groove formed on the restriction plate 62. The region in contact with the end portion of 43 becomes smaller, and it becomes easier to match the inner peripheral side regulating surface 63 with the end portion of the load rolling groove 43 without a step. This is the same for the alignment of the inner circumferential restriction surface 63 with respect to the end of the ball return passage 44.

  According to the motion guide device configured as described above, the regulation plate 62 that constitutes the direction change path of the ball 3 in cooperation with the outer peripheral guide surface 52 of the end plate 5 is fixed to the block body 4. Moreover, since the restriction plate 62 is not in contact with the ball guide groove 51 of the end plate 5 on which the outer peripheral guide surface 52 is formed, the restriction plate 62 with respect to the load rolling groove 43 and the ball return passage 44 of the block body 4 is not provided. The alignment is not affected by the molding accuracy of the end plate 5 and the accuracy with which the end plate 5 is fixed to the block body 4, and the inner peripheral side regulation surface 63 provided on the regulation plate 62 can be accurately loaded on the block body 4. It is possible to connect to the rolling groove 43 and the ball return passage 44.

  Further, by setting the thickness t of the restriction plate to be smaller than the groove width w of the ball guide groove 51 of the end plate 5, the inner peripheral side restriction surface 63 provided on the restriction plate 62 can be used as the load of the block body 4. It becomes easy to align the end of the rolling groove 43 and the end of the ball return passage 44 without a step, and the assembly operation of the moving block 2 is facilitated, and the ball 3 in the endless circulation path is easily made. It becomes possible to achieve smooth circulation.

  Furthermore, since the restriction plate 62 stands vertically from the base plate 61 fixed to the block body 4, if the base plate 61 is firmly fixed to the block body 4 by screwing or welding, the restriction plate 62 62 is integrated with the block body 4. Thereby, even when an external force is applied to the end plate 5, the inner peripheral side regulation surface 63 formed on the regulation plate 62 is displaced with respect to the load rolling groove 43 and the ball return passage 44. It does not occur.

  If the ball guide member 6 is made of metal, the ball guide member 6 is fixed to the block body 4 and then the load rolling groove 43 of the block body 4 is ground to form the restriction plate 62. It is also possible to make the inner circumferential side regulating surface 63 and the load rolling groove 43 made smoother. That is, as shown in FIG. 10, after the restriction plate 62 is fixed at a predetermined position between the load rolling groove 43 of the block body 4 and the ball return passage 44, the load rolling groove 47 is rotated by a grinding wheel 47 that rotates at high speed. If the grinding process of 43 is performed, the continuous grinding process is also applied to the end part of the inner peripheral side regulating surface 63 in contact with the end part of the load rolling groove 43, and the inner peripheral side regulating surface 63 and the load rolling process are performed. The groove 43 can be continued more smoothly. Further, with respect to the ball return passage 44 of the block body 4, as shown in FIG. 10, the end mill 48 is inserted into the ball return passage 44, and the connecting portion between the inner peripheral side regulation surface 63 and the ball return passage 44 is cut. The inner circumferential restriction surface 63 and the ball return passage 44 can be made to continue more smoothly.

  As described above, the ball guiding member 6 can be molded from a synthetic resin material. In that case, the synthetic resin ball guiding member 6 is fixed to the metal block body 4. When the load rolling groove 43 of the block body 4 is ground after the ball guide member 6 is fixed to the block body 4, the synthetic resin regulation plate 62 and the metal block body are ground simultaneously. For this reason, it is difficult to set the processing parameters for grinding as compared with the case where the ball guiding member is made of metal.

  11 to 15 relate to a second embodiment of the motion guide apparatus of the present invention.

  In the motion guide device of the first embodiment, the ball 3 is incorporated as it is into the infinite circulation path of the moving block 2, but in the motion guide device of this second embodiment, the ball 3 is shown in FIGS. Incorporated into an infinite circulation path in a state of being arranged in a connecting belt 30 as shown. The connecting belt 30 includes a plurality of spacers 31 disposed between the balls 3 and a guide belt 32 that connects the spacers 31, and is manufactured by injection molding of a synthetic resin. Each spacer 31 is provided with a spherical seat 33 having a curvature similar to the spherical surface of the ball 3. By arranging the ball 3 between a pair of spacers 31 located on the left and right of the ball 3, The spherical seat 33 of the spacer 31 holds the ball 3. Thereby, it is possible to hold the ball 3 on the coupling belt 30 in a rotatable state. Therefore, when the moving block 2 moves along the track rail 1, the ball 3 circulates in the infinite circulation path while rolling, and accordingly, the connecting belt 30 also circulates in the infinite circulation path. .

  When such a connecting belt 30 is incorporated in the endless circulation path of the moving block 2, it is necessary to provide a space for accommodating the guide belt 32 of the connecting body belt 30 on the inner peripheral surface of the ball return passage 44 of the block body 4. Arise. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 13, the block body 4 is provided with a pipe mounting hole 49 having an inner diameter larger than that of the ball return passage 44 at the position where the ball return passage 44 is formed. The pipe member 8 made of synthetic resin is fitted. The other configurations of the end plate 5, the ball guide member 6 and the like are the same as those of the first embodiment described above, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted here.

  The pipe member 8 is configured by combining a first pipe half body 8a and a second pipe half body 8b whose cross sections perpendicular to the longitudinal direction are formed in a substantially semicircular shape. The two pipe halves 8b are inserted into the pipe mounting holes of the block body 4 in a state where they abut each other. In FIG. 13, the first pipe half 8a and the second pipe half 8b are formed to have substantially the same length, but actually the first pipe half 8a is slightly smaller than the second pipe half 8b. When the pipe member 8 is fitted into the pipe mounting hole 49 of the block body 4, only the both ends of the first pipe half 8 a protrude from the pipe mounting hole 49. Yes. The tip end of the first pipe half 8a protruding from the pipe mounting hole 49 is fitted into the ball guide groove 51 of the end plate 5, thereby positioning the end plate 5 with respect to the pipe member 8. ing.

  FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the pipe member 8 cut in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and shows a state in which the first pipe half 8a and the second pipe half 8b are combined. The first pipe half 8a is formed with a semicircular outer guide groove 80 having an inner diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the ball 3, while the second pipe half 8b has an outer guide of the first pipe half 8a. An inner guide groove 81 having an inner diameter larger than that of the groove 80 is provided, and when the first pipe half 8a and the second pipe half 8b are combined, a ball return passage 82 through which the ball 3 can pass is completed. It has become. Therefore, by fitting the pipe member 8 into the pipe mounting hole 49 provided in the block main body 4, it is possible to provide the ball main passage 4 with the ball return passage 82.

  On the inner wall of the pipe member 8, a pair of step portions 83 are formed along the longitudinal direction for abutting and guiding the guide belt 32 of the connecting body belt 30 at positions facing each other. Is provided in the first pipe half 8a. A support protrusion 84 is formed along the longitudinal direction at the center of the inner guide groove 81 of the second pipe half 8b, and the ball 3 is returned to the ball by the support protrusion 84 and the outer guide groove 80. The trajectory in the passage 82 is restricted. The width of the support protrusion 84 matches the thickness t of the restriction plate 62 of the ball guiding member 6.

  Such a pipe member 8 is fitted into the pipe mounting hole 49 of the block main body 4, and the ball guiding member 6 shown in FIG. 6 is fixed to the end surface of the block main body 4 after the fitting operation. FIG. 15 is an enlarged view showing the relationship between the ball guiding member 6 and the pipe member 8 on the end face of the block body 4. In the second embodiment, when the ball guiding member 6 is fixed to the end surface of the block body 4, the restriction plate 62 of the ball guiding member 6 is connected to the end opening of the load passage 40 of the block body 4 and the end of the ball return passage 82. The inner circumferential side regulation surface 63 formed on the regulation plate 62 is respectively coincident with the end of the load rolling groove 43.

  Here, the restricting plate 62 slightly protrudes into the ball return passage 82 of the pipe member 8, and the amount of protrusion coincides with the height of the support protrusion 84 formed in the second pipe half 8b. That is, in a state where the pipe member 8 is attached to the block body 4 and the ball guiding member 6 is fixed to the end surface of the block body 4, the inner circumferential side regulation surface 63 of the regulation plate 62 and the second pipe half The guide surface of the ball 3 that is continuous from the ball return path 82 to the direction change path is formed so as to match the front end surface of the support protrusion 84 of the body 8b.

  Also in this second embodiment, the inner diameter formed on the regulating plate 62 is set by setting the thickness t of the regulating plate 62 of the ball guiding member smaller than the groove width w of the ball guiding groove 51 of the end plate 5. The region where the circumferential side regulating surface 63 and the end of the load rolling groove 43 are in contact with each other is reduced, and the inner circumferential side regulating surface 63 can be matched with the end of the load rolling groove 43 without a step. It becomes easy.

  In addition, since a support protrusion that restricts the trajectory of the ball inside the pipe member is provided on the pipe member, the support protrusion is configured to match the inner peripheral side restriction surface of the restriction plate. The area where the end of the return passage 82 is in contact with the inner circumferential restriction surface 63 is reduced, and the inner circumferential restriction surface 63 can be easily matched to the ball return passage 82 without any step.

  In addition, in order to further smooth the infinite circulation of the ball 3, the joint between the synthetic resin pipe member 8 and the metal ball guide member 6, more specifically, the support protrusion of the second pipe half 8b. Even when the connecting portion between the strip 84 and the inner circumferential side regulating surface 63 of the regulating plate 62 is cut with an end mill in the same manner as the example shown in FIG. 10, the width of the area to be scraped is the thickness t of the regulating plate 62. In addition, the different pipe member 8 and the ball guiding member 6 can be cut with high accuracy.

  In addition, although the example which used the ball | bowl as a rolling element was demonstrated in 1st embodiment and 2nd embodiment which were mentioned above, this invention is applicable also to the motion guide apparatus which uses a roller as a rolling element.

  In the first embodiment and the second embodiment described above, the motion guide device in which the track rail 1 is formed in a straight line has been described. However, the track guide device is a motion guide device in which the track rail is formed in an arc shape having a constant curvature. However, the present invention is applicable.

  Further, in the first embodiment and the second embodiment described above, the motion guide device of the type in which the track rail is laid on another machine device with fixing bolts has been described. A motion guide device that is fixedly supported with respect to the device, such as a ball spline device, may be used. In that case, the track rail can be understood by replacing it with a spline shaft.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Track rail, 2 ... Moving block, 3 ... Ball (rolling body), 4 ... Block main body, 5 ... End plate, 6 ... Ball guide member, 44 ... Ball return path, 51 ... Ball guide groove, 52 ... Outer peripheral side Guide surface, 62 ... restriction plate, 63 ... inner peripheral side restriction surface

Claims (5)

A track rail in which rolling grooves of the rolling elements are formed along the longitudinal direction, and the track rail is assembled to the track rail via a large number of rolling elements and has an infinite circulation path of the rolling elements, along the track rail. A movable moving block, and
The moving block has a load rolling groove that forms a load passage of a rolling element facing the rolling groove of the track rail, and has a rolling body return passage that is parallel to the load passage, and the block body. A pair of end plates that are fixed at both front and rear ends in the moving direction of the rolling element and constitute a direction change path of the rolling element that cooperates with the block body to connect the load path and the no-load path,
While the end plate is provided with an outer peripheral side guide surface of the direction change path and formed with rolling element guide grooves facing the opening openings of the load path and the rolling element return path,
On the end face of the block main body to which the end plate is mounted, a restriction plate is inserted between the end opening of the load passage and the end opening of the rolling element return passage and is inserted into the rolling element guide groove. Is fixed,
The restricting plate is kept in non-contact with the rolling element guide groove of the end plate, and has an inner peripheral restricting surface that constitutes the direction change path facing the outer peripheral guide surface provided in the end plate. A motion guide device characterized by comprising: The thickness of the restriction plate is formed to be thinner than the width of the rolling element guide groove of the end plate, and the rolling element that rolls in the direction change path is in point contact with the inner circumferential restriction surface. The motion guide apparatus according to claim 1, wherein The motion guide device according to claim 1, wherein the restriction plate stands upright from a base plate fixed to an end surface of the block body. A pipe member constituting the rolling element return passage is attached to the block body, and a protrusion is formed along the longitudinal direction on the inner peripheral surface of the pipe member. The motion guide device according to claim 1, wherein a leading end surface of the ridge and an inner peripheral side regulating surface of the regulating plate are continuous. The block main body and the restriction plate are made of metal, and continuous grinding is applied to the end of the load rolling groove of the block main body and the inner peripheral restriction surface of the restriction plate. The motion guide apparatus according to claim 1 or 4.

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