JP4561087B2 - Linear guide device and assembly method thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for assembling a linear guide device used as a machine part for guiding a linearly moving object in a machine tool, a precision instrument, an injection molding machine or the like, and in particular, a rolling element and a holding piece in a slide body of the linear guide device. On how to incorporate.

  Conventionally, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, this type of linear guide device includes a guide rail 11, a slider 12 placed on the upper surface of the guide rail 11, and a large number of built-in sliders 12. A rolling element 13 and a large number of resin-made holding pieces 14 interposed between the rolling elements 13 are provided. On both side surfaces of the guide rail 11, an angle of 90 degrees with respect to the side surface of the guide rail 11 is provided. A rolling element track recess 15 is formed along the longitudinal direction of the guide rail 11 as a rail-side rolling element track having an upper track surface 15 a and a lower track surface 15 b inclined at an angle exceeding.

  The slider 12 includes a slider body 16 having left and right inner surfaces facing the side surfaces of the guide rail 11, and end caps 17 and 18 attached to both ends of the slider body 16 in the front-rear direction. The rolling element raceway convex portion 19 as a slider side rolling element raceway having an upper raceway groove 19a and a lower activation groove 19b inclined at an angle exceeding 90 degrees with respect to the inner surface of the slider body 16 (see FIG. 6). Is formed along the longitudinal direction of the guide rail 11. The upper raceway groove 19a and the lower raceway groove 19b of the rolling element raceway convex portion 19 are opposed to the upper raceway surface 15a and the lower raceway surface 15b of the rolling element raceway concave portion 15, and the raceway grooves 19a and 19b and the raceway are provided. A linear rolling element rolling path 20 (see FIG. 8) is formed between the surfaces 15a and 15b.

  The rolling element 13 is formed in a cylindrical roller shape. These roller-like rolling elements 13 are formed on the end caps 17 and 18, for example, when the slider 12 moves relative to the longitudinal direction of the guide rail 11 and rolls along the rolling element rolling path 20. The rolling element return path 22 (see FIG. 8) formed in the slider body 16 in parallel with the U-shaped rolling element direction changing path 21 (see FIG. 8) and the rolling element rolling path 20 is rolled and described above. It is designed to circulate the route.

  On the other hand, in such a linear guide device, when the rolling element 13 and the holding piece 14 are assembled in the rolling element circulation path 23 including the rolling element rolling path 20, the rolling element direction changing path 21, and the rolling element rolling path 20. Care must be taken so that the rolling element 13 does not fall off the upper raceway groove 19a and the lower raceway groove 19b of the rolling element raceway convex portion 19. Therefore, conventionally, as shown in FIG. 9, the upper raceway groove 19 a and the lower raceway groove 19 b of the raceway raceway convex portion 19 are covered with a jig 24, and the rolling element 13 is started from a portion not covered with the jig 24. Is incorporated into the rolling element circulation path 23.

However, in the above conventional method, there is a problem that a large amount of labor and time are required because the rolling elements 13 and the holding pieces 14 are manually inserted without being aligned and the work space is narrow. In particular, when the rolling element 13 is assembled in the upper raceway groove 19a of the rolling element raceway convex portion 19, the working space becomes narrower, and the rolling element 13 is moved to the slider while checking a portion not covered with the jig 24 with a mirror. 12 is not only necessary for the assembly work of the rolling element 13 but also cannot be confirmed by direct visual observation, so that even if the holding piece 14 is tilted in the rolling circuit circulation path 23, it is noticed. There is also a problem of assembling without it.
Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to incorporate the rolling element and the holding piece into the rolling element circulation path without requiring much time and labor at the time of assembly, It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for assembling a linear guide device that can be refined.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a first aspect of the present invention includes a guide rail, rail-side rolling element tracks formed on the left and right side surfaces of the guide rail along the longitudinal direction of the guide rail, and the guide rail. A slider main body having an inner surface facing both left and right side surfaces, end caps attached to both ends of the slider main body in the front-rear direction, and a slider formed on the inner side surface of the slider main body along the longitudinal direction of the guide rail Rolled on a rolling element rolling path formed between the rail-side rolling element raceway and the slider-side rolling element raceway, which is incorporated in a slider composed of a side rolling element raceway and the slider body and end cap. And a linear body comprising a rolling element return path formed in the slider body and a number of rolling elements that roll on a rolling element direction changing path formed in the end cap. A method of assembling the Ido apparatus,
Said end cap, communicates with the slider body of the end cap and the opposite side surface and the rolling element direction changing passage of, and provided with the rolling element can pass through holes, the aligning and supplying apparatus from the through-hole A method of assembling a linear guide device, wherein the rolling element is inserted.
Further, according to a second aspect of the present invention, the alignment supply device includes a groove part capable of accommodating and guiding the rolling elements in a rollable manner, and a curved part forming one end of the groove part,
2. The assembly method for a linear guide device according to claim 1, wherein the rolling element is inserted in a state where the bending portion is inserted into the through hole and the rolling element direction changing path.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a closing member that is formed in a shape that forms a part of the rolling element direction changing path and fits into the through hole after inserting the rolling element. The linear guide device assembly method according to claim 1, wherein the through hole is closed.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the rolling element is inserted in a state where a holding piece is interposed between the adjacent rolling elements. It is an assembly method of the linear guide device as described in the item.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a guide rail, rail-side rolling element tracks formed on the left and right side surfaces of the guide rail along the longitudinal direction of the guide rail, and the left and right side surfaces of the guide rail. A slider body having opposed inner surfaces, end caps attached to both ends of the slider body in the front-rear direction, and slider-side rolling element tracks formed on the inner surface of the slider body along the longitudinal direction of the guide rail; A rolling element rolling path formed between the rail-side rolling element raceway and the slider-side rolling element raceway, which is incorporated in a slider constituted by the slider body and an end cap, and in the slider body A linear guide device comprising: a rolling element return path formed on the end cap; and a plurality of rolling elements rolling on the rolling element direction changing path formed in the end cap.
Said end cap, communicates with the slider body of the end cap and the opposite side surface and the rolling element direction changing passage of, and provided with the rolling element can pass through holes, said rolling element from the through hole The linear guide device is characterized in that it can be inserted.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the guide rail, rail-side rolling element tracks formed on the left and right side surfaces of the guide rail along the longitudinal direction of the guide rail, and the left and right side surfaces of the guide rail, A slider body having opposed inner surfaces, end caps attached to both ends of the slider body in the front-rear direction, and slider-side rolling element tracks formed on the inner surface of the slider body along the longitudinal direction of the guide rail; A rolling element rolling path formed between the rail-side rolling element raceway and the slider-side rolling element raceway, which is incorporated in a slider constituted by the slider body and an end cap, and in the slider body Between the adjacent rolling elements, and a large number of rolling elements that roll on the rolling element return path formed in the roller and the rolling element direction changing path formed in the end cap. In the linear guide apparatus provided with a holding piece,
Said end cap, communicates with the slider body of the end cap and the opposite side surface and the rolling element direction changing passage of, and provided with the rolling elements and the retainer piece can pass through holes, from the through-hole The linear guide device is characterized in that the rolling element and the holding piece can be inserted.

According to the present invention, since the rolling elements and the holding pieces can be aligned in advance in the alignment supply device and can be directly assembled from the end cap side, the alignment process can be automated and speeded up, and at the same time assembling. The rolling element and the holding piece can be incorporated in the rolling element circulation path in a state of being aligned in advance without requiring much time and labor. Therefore, as compared with the prior art, the assembly work can be made more efficient, automated and more precise, and a product with higher quality can be manufactured.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The same parts as those shown in FIGS. 6 to 9 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
1 and 2 are diagrams showing a linear guide device according to this embodiment. FIG. 1 is a front view of an end cap, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are explanatory views of an alignment supply apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention.

First, the overall configuration of the linear guide device according to this embodiment will be schematically described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the end caps 17 and 18 include an end cap body 30 having two through holes 31, and the end caps. The closing member 32 closes the through hole 31 of the cap body 30.
As shown in FIG. 2, the through holes 31 are opened in the rolling element direction changing path 21, and the opening width of each through hole 31 is formed larger than the axial length of the holding piece 14. In other words, the outer rolling wall surface 21 a of the rolling element direction changing path 21 is for incorporating the rolling element 13 into the rolling element circulation path 23 including the rolling element rolling path 20, the rolling element direction changing path 21 and the rolling element return path 22. (Opening) A through hole 31 is formed.

In the linear guide device configured as described above, when the closing member 32 is removed from the end caps 17 and 18, as shown in FIG. 3, the (opening) penetration formed in the outer curved wall surface 21 a of the rolling element direction change path 21. The rolling element 13 and the holding piece can be assembled from the hole 31 into the rolling element circulation path 23 in an aligned state by the alignment supply device 40. As shown in FIG. 3, the alignment supply device 40 includes a sleeve 41 that accommodates the rolling element 13 and the holding piece 14 in a rollable manner, and a lid 42 that covers the sleeve 41.

4 and 5 are diagrams showing the configurations of the sleeve 41 and the lid 42, respectively. As shown in FIG. 4, the sleeve 41 includes a sleeve main body 411 and a groove portion 412 that is provided at an upper portion of the sleeve main body 411 and accommodates the rolling element 13 in a rollable manner.
The groove portion 412 includes a floor portion 412a and side wall portions 412b and 412b. A guide portion 412c for guiding the arm portion 14a of the holding piece 14 is formed in a stepped shape on the side wall portions 412b and 412b. Is done. Furthermore, curved portions 412d and 412d (see FIGS. 3 and 4) that can be inserted into the through hole 31 are formed at the tips of the side wall portions 412b and 412b.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, the lid body 42 includes a main body 421 and a groove portion 422 that is provided in the main body 421 and guides the rolling element 13 so as to allow rolling.
The groove portion 422 includes a ceiling portion 422a and side wall portions 422b and 422b, and the side wall portions 422b and 422b are guides for guiding the arm portion 14a of the holding piece 14 similarly to the sleeve 41. The portion 422c is formed in a step shape. Further, curved portions 422d and 422d (see FIGS. 3 and 5) that can be inserted into the through hole 31 are formed at the tips of the side wall portions 422b and 422b.

When suffer the lid 42 to the sleeve 41, the alignment supply unit 4 0 according to the present invention is formed, cross formed by the groove 412 and 422 is basically the rolling element rolling path 20 Alternatively, it is desirable to have the same shape as the rolling element return path 22 and to have a length longer than the entire length of the rolling element circulation path 23. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the lid 42 of the aligning and supplying apparatus 4 0, together with the opening 44 is opened penetrating the pushing member 43 for pushing the rolling element 13, the grooves 412 and 422 A space 45 for pushing the rolling element 13 is formed. The sleeve 41 and the lid 42 are preferably formed of an inexpensive resin molded product, but may be made of metal.

Next, a method for assembling the linear guide device according to the present invention will be described.
First, the rolling elements 13 for one groove, the holding pieces 14 and the arm portions 14a thereof are alternately aligned in the groove portions 412 of the sleeve 41. Thereafter, the lid 42 is closed to the sleeve 41, and the curved portions 412 d and 422 d that are in contact with the distal end portion are inserted into the through hole 31. At this time, when the curved portion 412d of the sleeve 41 reaches the vicinity of the rolling element return path 22 (FIG. 3) which is a linear portion of the rolling element circulation path 23, the insertion of the alignment supply device 40 is stopped. Subsequently, the rolling element 13, the holding piece 14, and the arm portion 14 a are assembled into the rolling element circulation path 23. After the assembly work is completed, the through hole 31 is closed with a closing member 32.

  In this way, since the rolling elements 13 and the holding pieces 14 can be aligned in advance in the alignment supply device and can be directly assembled from the end cap side, the alignment process can be automated and speeded up. In addition, since the rolling elements 13 and the holding pieces 14 can be assembled into the rolling element circulation path in a state where they are alternately arranged in advance, a lot of time and labor are not required at the time of assembling, and the efficiency and automation of the assembling work can be improved. Precision can be achieved.

It is a figure which shows the linear guide apparatus which concerns on this invention, (a) is a front view of a linear guide apparatus, (b) is a rear view of a linear guide apparatus. It is the II-II sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the assembly method of the linear guide apparatus of this invention. It is a figure which shows the sleeve of the alignment supply apparatus which concerns on this invention, (a) is a top view of a sleeve, (b) is a front view of a sleeve, (c) is a side view of a sleeve. It is a figure which shows the cover body of the alignment supply apparatus which concerns on this invention, (a) is a top view of a cover body, (b) is a front view of a cover body, (c) is a side view of a cover body. It is a perspective view of the conventional linear guide apparatus. It is a front view of the linear guide apparatus shown in FIG. It is the IX-IX sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the method of incorporating a rolling element in the slider of the linear guide apparatus shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Guide rail 12 Slider 13 Rolling body 14 Holding piece 14a Arm part 15 Rolling body track | orbit recessed part 15a Upper track surface 15b Lower track surface 16 Slider main body 17 and 18 End cap 19 Rolling body track convex part 19a Upper track groove 19b Lower track Groove 20 Rolling body rolling path 21 Rolling body direction switching path 22 Rolling body return path 23 Rolling body circulation path 30 End cap body 31 Through hole 32 Closing member 40 Alignment supply device 41 Sleeve 42 Lid

Claims (6)

A guide rail, rail-side rolling element tracks formed on the left and right side surfaces of the guide rail along the longitudinal direction of the guide rail, and a slider body having an inner surface facing the left and right side surfaces of the guide rail, It comprises an end cap attached to both ends of the slider body in the front-rear direction, a slider-side rolling element track formed on the inner surface of the slider body along the longitudinal direction of the guide rail, and the slider body and end cap. Rolling on a rolling element rolling path formed between the rail-side rolling element raceway and the slider-side rolling element raceway incorporated in the slider, and the rolling element return path and the end formed in the slider body A method of assembling a linear guide device comprising a number of rolling elements that roll on a rolling element direction change path formed in a cap,
Said end cap, communicates with the slider body of the end cap and the opposite side surface and the rolling element direction changing passage of, and provided with the rolling element can pass through holes, the aligning and supplying apparatus from the through-hole A method of assembling the linear guide device, wherein the rolling element is inserted. The alignment supply device includes a groove portion that can accommodate and guide the rolling elements in a rollable manner, and a curved portion that forms one end of the groove portion,
The linear guide device assembling method according to claim 1, wherein the rolling element is inserted in a state in which the bending portion is inserted into the through hole and the rolling element direction changing path.   After inserting the rolling element, the through hole is closed by a closing member that forms a part of the rolling element direction changing path and is formed in a shape that fits into the through hole. The assembly method of the linear guide apparatus of Claim 1 or 2.   The linear guide device assembling method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the rolling elements are inserted in a state in which a holding piece is interposed between the adjacent rolling elements. A guide rail, a rail-side rolling element track formed on the left and right side surfaces of the guide rail along the longitudinal direction of the guide rail, a slider body having an inner surface facing the left and right side surfaces of the guide rail, It comprises an end cap attached to both ends of the slider body in the front-rear direction, a slider-side rolling element raceway formed on the inner surface of the slider body along the longitudinal direction of the guide rail, and the slider body and end cap. Rolling on a rolling element rolling path formed between the rail-side rolling element raceway and the slider-side rolling element raceway incorporated in the slider, and the rolling element return path and the end formed in the slider body A linear guide device comprising a number of rolling elements that roll on a rolling element direction change path formed in a cap,
Said end cap, communicates with the slider body of the end cap and the opposite side surface and the rolling element direction changing passage of, and provided with the rolling element can pass through holes, said rolling element from the through hole A linear guide device characterized in that it can be inserted. A guide rail, rail-side rolling element tracks formed on the left and right side surfaces of the guide rail along the longitudinal direction of the guide rail, and a slider body having an inner surface facing the left and right side surfaces of the guide rail, It comprises an end cap attached to both ends of the slider body in the front-rear direction, a slider-side rolling element track formed on the inner surface of the slider body along the longitudinal direction of the guide rail, and the slider body and end cap. Rolling on a rolling element rolling path formed between the rail-side rolling element raceway and the slider-side rolling element raceway incorporated in the slider, and the rolling element return path and the end formed in the slider body A linear gear comprising a large number of rolling elements that roll on a rolling element direction change path formed in the cap, and a holding piece that is interposed between the adjacent rolling elements. In de apparatus,
Said end cap, communicates with the slider body of the end cap and the opposite side surface and the rolling element direction changing passage of, and provided with the rolling elements and the retainer piece can pass through holes, from the through-hole A linear guide device characterized in that the rolling element and the holding piece can be inserted.

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