JP4463733B2 - Rolling element holder for linear guideway - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a rolling element holder for a linear guideway, and in particular, by improving both ends of a load side holder, the motion stability of the linear guideway is improved and the rolling smoothness of the rolling element is also improved. The present invention relates to an improved rolling element holder for a linear guideway.

  Rolling element holders for linear guideways are widely used in facilities that require precision movement (for example, NC machine tools, automatic welding machines, and conveying devices). A general linear guideway has a configuration in which one rolling element holder is circulated along an annular rolling path, and a linear guideway having a rolling element holder accommodates a rolling element holder in the circulation path. However, it is necessary to provide rolling element grooves for all of the circulation paths. However, it is impossible to provide rolling element grooves in all circulation paths. Generally, since a step is generated in the circulation path constituted by a plurality of members, the movement of the rolling element holding chain connecting portion does not become smooth.

  1 and 2 show a conventional rolling element holder for a linear guideway. As is apparent from the drawings, a block body 11 is installed on a linear guideway. The load-side cage 12 and the circulating portion holder 13 are configured to accommodate the rolling element holding chain connecting portion 141. In addition, the rolling element holding chain connecting portion receiving grooves 121 and 131 communicated with each other. As shown in FIG. 3, the rolling element holding chain 14 has a plurality of partition parts 143 mounted on a symmetric connecting chain 141. With this configuration, the rolling element 142 is held between the rolling element holding chains 14.

  Since a special design is not implemented at the connection point between the rolling element holding chain connecting portion receiving groove 131 of the conventional circulating portion holding tool 13 and the rolling element holding chain connecting portion receiving groove 121 of the load side holding tool 12, When the connecting part 141 of the rolling element holding chain 14 enters the load side holding tool 12 from the circulating part holding tool 13, it becomes unsatisfactory, and after performing analysis and simulation, the following key points were arranged.

(1) The rolling element holding chain 14 used for the linear guideway is generally made of a resin material having flexibility, and the cause thereof is that the rolling element holding chain 14 smoothly moves the circulating portion holder 13. I can pass. However, when the connecting portion 141 approaches the connecting portion between the circulating portion holder 13 and the load side holder 12, the connecting portion 141 is connected to the rolling element holding chain connecting the circulating portion holder 13 by the elasticity of the material. It abuts on the outer edge of the part accommodating groove 131. This state is shown in FIG. In the drawing, the rolling element holding chain 14 is indicated by a thick solid line. When the connecting portion 141 reaches the connection location, the connecting portion 141 cannot move forward to the planned traveling path of the rolling element holding chain 14, and an angle shift occurs, and the shift state is shown in FIG. 5. In FIG. 5, the solid arrow is the actual traveling direction, and the air-centered arrow is the planned traveling direction.

(2) The load-side holder 12 generally adopts a pin coupling method for assembling with other members, but considering the tolerance and manufacturing error, the circulating part holder 13 is rolled. A step is generated at a connection portion between the element holding chain connecting portion receiving groove 131 and the rolling element holding chain connecting portion receiving groove 121 of the load side holder 12.

  Due to the above causes, as shown in FIG. 6, when the end of the connecting portion 141 of the rolling element holding chain 14 passes through the outlet of the rolling element holding chain connecting portion receiving groove 131 of the circulating portion holding tool 13, the load The side holder 12 collides with the end edge of the rolling element holding chain connecting portion accommodating groove 121. Then, the operation of the rolling element holding chain 14 becomes irregular.

Therefore, Japanese Patent No. 3349238 has been proposed in order to ensure the smoothness of operation of the linear guideway having a rolling element holder. This is because the stepped portion is not provided on the connecting surface between the circulating portion and the load side, so that the rolling element holder connecting portion can pass through the step smoothly. However, according to such a configuration, the productivity is not good and the member is made of a resin material, so that the width-to-length ratio is too large to grasp the dimensional shrinkage, and there is a problem when assembling the member. It may occur.

  The main object of the present invention is to provide a rolling element holder for a linear guideway in which the motion stability of the linear guideway is improved and the rolling smoothness of the rolling element is also improved.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a linear guideway rolling element holder that facilitates the production of a linear guideway rolling element holder.

The invention of the present application made to achieve the above object is that the accommodation groove for the rolling element holding chain connecting portion mainly comprises a load side holder having a rolling element groove and a circulating part holder having a rolling element groove. In the rolling element holder for a linear guideway, wherein the opening of the rolling element groove of the circulating part holder is located inside the guide element for the load side holder guide formed in a part of the end plate, the load side Both ends of the holder are provided with convex portions extending outward according to the circulating portion holder, and the convex portions extend along the direction of the rolling element groove of the load side holder, and the circulating portion holder Attach the load-side holder by bringing the convex portion into contact with the guide element of the end plate so that the end face of the opening of the rolling element groove of the load side holder faces the end face of the opening of the rolling element groove of Is the gap, M is from the top of the circulation Length to the parts, B extends the length, L is the retainer length, w is the thermal expansion coefficient, Delta] t is applicable temperature range, if p is the tolerance of dimensional errors, extension of the protrusions The gist of the invention is a rolling element holder for a linear guideway characterized in that the length is A + M>B> A = L × w × Δt + 2p.

In the invention of the present application, a linear guideway rolling comprising a block, an end plate, a circulating tube , a plurality of circulating portion holders having rolling element grooves, and a plurality of load side holders having rolling element grooves. In the element holder, the block and the end plate are connected to each other, and the circulation part holder is installed in a holder space of the end plate, and the circulation tube is installed inside the block, and the circulation part holding Koo, the opening end of the rolling element groove cross-sectional area as it goes outward reduced gradually, Yes and guiding unit is provided for guiding the rolling element retaining chain articulation, inside each load retainer block The end plate is provided with a guide element in the holder space according to the guide part of the circulating part holder and the end face of the rolling element groove, and the front plate On one side of the guide element Yes in abutment surface it is provided, at both ends of the load-side retainer is provided with a convex portion extending outwardly for attachment to the guide portion of the whirling unit holder, the load-side holding The tool is provided with a rolling element groove toward the rolling element groove of the circulating part holder, and the contact surface formed on one side surface of the convex portion along the direction of the rolling element groove of the load side holder is provided. 2. A rolling element holder for a linear guideway according to claim 1, wherein a load side holder is attached to the end plate in contact with a contact surface formed on the outer surface of the guide element of the end plate. It is the gist.

According to the rolling element holder for the linear guideway according to the present invention, the motion stability of the linear guideway is improved, the rolling smoothness of the rolling element is improved, and the member of the rolling element holder for the linear guideway is improved. Is easy to manufacture.

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  First, reference will be made to FIGS. The rolling element holder for a linear guideway according to the present invention mainly includes a block 20, an end plate 30, a circulation tube 60, a plurality of circulation portion holders 40, and a plurality of load side holders 50. Is done.

  The block 20 and the end plate 30 are connected to each other, and the circulation part holder 40 is installed in a holder space 31 of the end plate 30.

  The circulation tube 60 is installed inside the block 20.

  The circulation part holder 40 is provided with a guide part 41 whose cross-sectional area gradually decreases toward the outside at the opening of the end part of the rolling element groove 42, and each load side holder 50 is connected to the block 20. Mounted on the inside.

  The end plate 30 is provided with a guide element 32 in the holder space 31 according to the guide part 41 of the circulation part holder 40 and the end face of the rolling element groove 42, and on one side of the guide element 32. A connecting surface 321 is provided.

  Both ends of the load side holder 50 are provided with convex portions 51 extending outward according to the circulation portion holder 40, and rolling element grooves 52 are provided according to the rolling element grooves 42 of the circulation portion holder 40. It is. The convex portion 51 extends along the direction of the rolling element groove 52 of the load side holder 50 and contacts the outer surface of the guide element 32 of the end plate 30, and the contact surface 511 guides the end plate 30. It abuts on the connecting surface 321 of the element 32 and is located on the outer surface of the guide portion 41 of the circulating portion holder 40.

  The convex portion 51 of the load-side holder 50 according to the present invention can be easily attached from the outside of the guide element 32 of the end plate 30, and the production of the rolling element holder for the linear guideway is facilitated.

Most importantly, convex portions 51 extending outward that can be attached to the guide portions 41 of the circulation portion holder 40 are provided at both ends of each load side holder 50, and the contact surfaces 511 of the convex portions 51 are end portions. Since the convex portion 51 is in contact with the connecting surface 321 of the guide element 32 of the plate 30 and is located on the outer surface of the guide portion 41 of the circulation portion holder 40, the guide portion 41 of each circulation portion holder 40 and the load side A gap is not generated at the connection portion between the holding portion 50 and the rolling element groove 52.
Thereby, interference or a collision does not generate | occur | produce in the connection part of a rolling element holder.

  As shown in FIG. 13, on the premise that the shape of the member is not changed, the convex portion 51 absorbs the deviation generated in the traveling direction of the rolling element holder, so that the rolling element holder connecting portion is held on the load side. The step at the connection point between the portion 50 and the circulating portion holder 40 can be smoothly passed.

  The reason why the gap remains between the components is to absorb the dimensional variation due to each situation. However, in order to solve the disadvantages caused by the conventional design, the present invention provides the guide portion 41 of the circulating portion holder 40 and the load side holding portion 50. The convex portion 51 is located on the outer surface of the guide portion 41 of the circulating portion holder 40 without generating a gap as much as possible in the connection portion with the rolling element groove 52. Therefore, the present invention forms the rolling element groove of the rolling element holder without a step, and thereby the end of the connecting part of the rolling element holder rolls the load side holding part 50 along the rolling element groove on the load side. The element groove 52 can enter smoothly, and the connecting part of the rolling element holder can smoothly pass through the gap. Therefore, the rolling element holder impairs the smoothness of operation when the linear guideway is operating. It doesn't become a thing.

  The load-side holder 50 is provided with a rolling element groove 52 corresponding to the rolling element groove 42 of the circulation part holder 40, and the convex portion 51 extends along the direction of the rolling element groove 52 of the load-side holder 50. Since the contact surface 511 stably contacts the connecting surface 321 of the guide element 32 of the end plate 30, the operation of the present invention becomes more stable. In addition, the adjustment of the gap can also move stably along the axial direction.

  Moreover, since it is not necessary to change the structure of the load side holder 50 significantly in the present invention, the manufacture of the convex portion 51 is facilitated and the product is manufactured by resin injection molding. Therefore, the smoothness of the movement of the linear guideway is improved, and the production of the rolling element holder for the linear guideway is facilitated.

  It should be particularly noted that the reason why it is necessary to leave a gap at the connection portion between the guide portion 41 of each circulation portion holder 40 and the rolling element groove 52 of the load side holder 50 is partially made of resin. Depends on the dimensions of the member. The main causes are as follows.

(1) Since the applicable temperature range of the linear guideway is extremely wide (−20 ° C. to 100 ° C.), it is necessary to absorb the dimensional variation due to the temperature change by the gap.

(2) unless the remaining gaps corresponding to the allowable value of the dimensional error when mounting the two members, the mounting operation of the member can not be easily completed.

  In the present invention, the design values of the gap of the member and the length of the protrusion 51 extended into the end plate can be calculated by the following relational expression.

The parameter setting (see FIG. 13)
A is a gap,
B is the length,
C is dimensional variation with temperature,
D is the clearance according to the tolerance value,
L is the holder length,
M is the length from the top to the bottom of the circulation,
Δt is the applicable temperature range,
w is the coefficient of thermal expansion,
p is an acceptable value,
The gap A is the sum of the dimensional variation C due to temperature change and the gap D due to tolerance.

C = L × w × Δt

  D = 2p

A = C + D = L * w * [ Delta] t + 2p.

  In addition, since the extension length B of the convex part 51 needs to be larger than the gap A,

B> A = L × w × Δt + 2p,

And considering the possibility of implementation, the extension length B needs to be smaller than the sum of the length M from the circulating top to the bottom and the gap A.
B <A + M.
Therefore, a suitable extension length of the convex portion 51 is

A + M>B> A = L * w * [ Delta] t + 2p.

It is a disassembled perspective view of the conventional rolling element holder for linear guideways. It is a one part enlarged view of FIG. It is a perspective view of a rolling element holding chain. It is the schematic which shows the operation state in the inside of the conventional circulation part holder with a rolling element holding chain (a cross-hatched part shows a holding chain connection part). It is the schematic which shows the state by which the rolling element holding chain was pushed out from the conventional circulation part holder (a cross-hatched part shows a holding chain connection part). It is the schematic which shows the state which contacted the load side holder, when the rolling element holding chain was extruded from the conventional circulation part holder. It is a perspective view which shows the union state of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the end plate which concerns on this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the attachment method of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the attachment method of this invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the present invention. FIG. 12 is an enlarged perspective view of a part of FIG. 11. It is an expansion perspective view of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing of the parameter which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

11 Block body 12 Load-side holder 121 Rolling element holding chain connecting part receiving groove 13 Flowing part holding tool 131 Rolling element holding chain connecting part receiving groove 14 Rolling element holding chain 141 Connecting part 142 Rolling element 143 Rolling element 143 Partition part 20 Block 30 End plate 31 Holder space 32 Guide element 41 Guide portion 42 Rolling element groove 50 Load side holder 51 Protruding portion 511 Abutting surface 52 Rolling element groove 60 Convection tube A Gap B Extension length C Dimensional variation due to temperature D Allowable Clearance L by value Length of holder M Length from top to bottom of recirculation Δt Applicable temperature range w Thermal expansion coefficient p Allowable value

Claims (2)

The accommodation groove for the rolling element holding chain connecting part is mainly composed of a load side holding tool having a rolling element groove and a circulating part holder having a rolling element groove, and the opening of the rolling element groove of the circulating part holder Is a rolling element holder for a linear guideway located inside a guide element for guiding a load side holder formed on a part of an end plate,
Both ends of the load side holding tool are provided with convex portions extending outward according to the circulation part holding tool,
The convex portion extends along the direction of the rolling element groove of the load side holder,
In addition, the convex portion is brought into contact with the guide element of the end plate so that the end face of the rolling element groove of the load side holder faces the end face of the opening of the rolling element groove of the circulating part holder. Install the tool,
A is the gap, M is the length from the top to the bottom, B is the length of extension, L is the length of the holder, w is the coefficient of thermal expansion, Δt is the applicable temperature range, and p is the tolerance of dimensional error. In some cases, the extension length of the convex portion is
A + M>B> A = L × w × Δt + 2p
It is characterized by
Rolling element holder for linear guideway. In the rolling element holder for a linear guideway composed of a block, an end plate, a circulating tube, a plurality of circulating portion holders having rolling element grooves, and a plurality of load side holders having rolling element grooves,
The block and the end plate are connected to each other,
And the said circulation part holder is installed in the holder space of an end plate,
The circulating tube is installed inside the block;
The circulating part holding tool is provided with a guide part for guiding the rolling element holding chain connecting part, in which the cross-sectional area gradually decreases toward the outside at the opening of the end part of the rolling element groove,
Each load side holder is attached to the inside of the block,
The end plate is provided with a guide element in the holder space toward the guide part of the circulation part holder and the end face of the rolling element groove,
A contact surface is provided on one side of the guide element,
On both ends of the load-side holder, there are provided convex portions extending outward that can be attached to the guide part of the circulation part holder,
The load side holder is provided with a rolling element groove toward the rolling element groove of the circulating part holder,
The abutment surface formed on one side surface of the convex portion along the direction of the rolling element groove of the load-side holder is brought into contact with the abutment surface formed on the outer surface of the guide element of the end plate to the end plate. A load side holder is attached,
The rolling element holder for linear guideways according to claim 1.

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