Motion guiding device

Abstract

The invention provides a motion guide device capable of improving durability of a cover member. At least two circulation paths are provided on the left and right sides of the motion guide device (10), respectively, up and down. The balls (3) moving in the rolling path are sandwiched between the wall surface (12a) of the turning circulation groove (12) of the cover member (5) and the rolling grooves (1a) of the guide rail (1), and the balls (3) in the rolling grooves (1a) on the upper side of the guide rail (1) are turned in an obliquely downward direction (A1) and / or the balls (3) in the rolling grooves (1a) on the lower side of the guide rail (1) are turned in an obliquely upward direction (A2) in a guide rail right-angle cross-sectional view of the motion guide device (10).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a motion guiding device in which multiple balls are clamped between a guide rail and a carriage in a rolling motion. Background Technology

[0002] The motion guiding device includes a guide rail with a rolling groove and a carriage with a rolling groove, a return path, and a turning path (see Patent Document 1). Multiple balls are arranged in the circulation path, including the rolling groove of the guide rail and the rolling groove of the carriage, the rolling path, and the turning path.

[0003] The carriage has a carriage body with rolling grooves and a cover member with a turning circulation groove. The cover member is also called an end plate or end cap.

[0004] In previous motion guidance devices, such as Figure 9 As shown, the ball 103 moving in the rolling path contacts the ball shovel portion 112a of the turning circulation groove 112 of the cover member 105. Under the right-angle cross-section of the guide rail of the motion guide device, the ball 103 on the rolling groove of the guide rail turns the ball 103 in the contact angle direction 111 or in the direction A1 or A2 slightly inclined from the contact angle direction 111.

[0005] Existing technical documents

[0006] Patent documents

[0007] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2022-154793 Summary of the Invention

[0008] The problem that the invention aims to solve

[0009] However, in conventional motion guiding devices, the ball shovel portion 112a of the cover member 105 that is in contact with the ball 103 moving in the rolling path becomes a thin-walled edge. When the speed and acceleration of the ball 103 increase, the stress generated in the ball shovel portion 112a increases, and there is a problem that the ball shovel portion 112a breaks prematurely.

[0010] The present invention was made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its object is to provide a motion guiding device that can improve the durability of the cover component.

[0011] Methods for solving problems

[0012] To address the aforementioned issues, one aspect of the present invention is a motion guiding device comprising: a guide rail having a rolling groove; a carriage having a rolling groove, a return path, and a turning path; and a plurality of balls disposed in a circulation path comprising the rolling groove of the guide rail and the rolling groove of the carriage, the return path, and the turning path. The carriage comprises: a carriage body having the rolling groove; and a cover member having a turning circulation groove of the turning path. At least two circulation paths are provided vertically on the left and right sides of the motion guiding device, respectively. A ball moving in the rolling path is held between the wall of the turning circulation groove of the cover member and the rolling groove of the guide rail. In a right-angle cross-section of the guide rail of the motion guiding device, the ball on the upper side of the guide rail's rolling groove turns obliquely downwards, and / or the ball on the lower side of the guide rail's rolling groove turns obliquely upwards.

[0013] To address the aforementioned issues, another aspect of the present invention is a motion guiding device comprising: a guide rail having a rolling groove; a carriage having a rolling groove, a return path, and a turning path; and a plurality of balls disposed in a circulation path comprising the rolling groove of the guide rail and the rolling groove of the carriage, the return path, and the turning path. The carriage comprises: a carriage body having the rolling groove; and a cover member having a turning circulation groove of the turning path. At least two circulation paths are provided vertically on the left and right sides of the motion guiding device, respectively. A ball moving in the rolling path is held between the wall of the turning circulation groove of the cover member and the rolling groove of the guide rail. In a right-angle cross-section of the guide rail of the motion guiding device, the turning circulation groove on the upper side of the cover member is bent downwards, and / or the turning circulation groove on the lower side of the cover member is bent upwards.

[0014] Invention Effects

[0015] According to the present invention, the ball shovel portion of the cover member that is contacted by the ball moving in the rolling path can be made thick-walled, allowing the ball to make surface contact with the ball shovel portion. Therefore, the stress generated in the ball shovel portion can be reduced, and the repeated durability of the cover member can be improved. Furthermore, according to the present invention, the overall height of the motion guide device can be kept relatively low. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a motion guiding device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 2 This is a right-angle sectional view of the guide rail of the motion guiding device in this embodiment.

[0018] Figure 3 It is a three-dimensional diagram of the cover component.

[0019] Figure 4 This is a perspective view of the cover component with the R component assembled on it.

[0020] Figure 5 This is a detailed drawing of component R. Figure 5 (a) is a perspective view of the R component section as seen from the side of the carriage body. Figure 5 (b) is a perspective view of the R-component section as seen from the side of the cover component. Figure 5 (c) is the front view of component R.

[0021] Figure 6 It is a right-angle sectional view of the guide rail, showing the state of the balls moving in the rolling path, held by the wall of the turning circulation groove of the cover member and the rolling groove of the guide rail.

[0022] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 A three-dimensional image.

[0023] Figure 8 It is a timing diagram showing the state of the ball turning in the turning circulation groove of the cover component.

[0024] Figure 9 This is the front view of the cover component of a conventional motion guide device. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The motion guiding device of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the motion guiding device of the present invention can be embodied in various ways and is not limited to the embodiments described in this specification. These embodiments are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand the invention by making the specification sufficiently disclosed.

[0026] Figure 1 This is a perspective view showing a motion guiding device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The motion guiding device 10 of this embodiment relates to a small motion guiding device known as a miniaturized guide, but is not limited thereto.

[0027] The motion guiding device 10 includes a guide rail 1 and a carriage 2. The guide rail 1 is mounted on a base (not shown) or the like. The carriage 2 is mounted on a worktable (not shown) or the like. The carriage 2 is guided by the guide rail 1 and can move relative to the guide rail 1.

[0028] For ease of explanation, the following description uses the direction of the motion guide device 10 positioned on the horizontal plane when viewed from the length of the guide rail 1. Figure 1 , Figure 2 The structure of the motion guide device 10 is explained by its up-down, left-right, front-back, and back-forward orientations. Of course, the configuration of the motion guide device 10 is not limited to this.

[0029] like Figure 1As shown, the guide rail 1 has a rolling groove 1a. The carriage 2 has a rolling groove 4a, a return path C3, and a turning path C2. Multiple balls 3 are arranged in the circulation path 7, which includes the rolling groove 1a of the guide rail 1 and the rolling groove 4a of the carriage 2, the rolling path C1, the return path C3, and the turning path C2. The rolling path C1 and the return path C3 are straight. The turning path C2 is approximately U-shaped. Two circulation paths 7 are arranged vertically on the left and right sides of the motion guide device 10.

[0030] Mounting holes 1b are formed on the upper surface of the guide rail 1 for mounting the guide rail 1 to a base or the like. Two rolling grooves 1a are formed on the left and right sides of the guide rail 1, one above the other. Each rolling groove 1a is an arc groove. Each rolling groove 1a can also be a pointed arch groove.

[0031] The carriage 2 includes: a carriage body 4 having a rolling groove 4a; a pair of cover members 5 having a turning circulation groove on the outer periphery of the turning path C2; and a pair of R member portions 8, which are assembled to the pair of cover members 5 and have a turning circulation groove on the inner periphery of the turning path C2 (see reference). Figure 4 The cover component 5 is installed at both ends of the carriage body 4.

[0032] Figure 2 A right-angle sectional view of the guide rail of the motion guiding device 10. Figure 2 The left half represents Figure 1 Sectional view of the IIL-IIL line (front view of carriage body 4). Figure 2 The right half represents Figure 1 Sectional view along the IIR-IIR line (main view of cover component 5).

[0033] like Figure 2 As shown in the left half, the carriage body 4 has a central portion 4-1 opposite the upper surface of the guide rail 1 and a pair of left and right sleeves 4-2 opposite the side surfaces of the guide rail 1. Mounting holes 4b for mounting the carriage 2 to a worktable or similar surface are formed on the upper surface of the carriage body 4. Two rolling grooves 4a are formed on the left and right sleeves 4-2 of the carriage body 4, respectively, for the rolling of the ball bearings 3. Each rolling groove 4a is an arc groove. Each rolling groove 4a may also be a pointed arch groove.

[0034] Figure 2 Reference numeral 11 in the attached drawing indicates the contact angle direction of the ball 3, and reference numeral θ° indicates the contact angle. The contact angle θ° is not particularly limited, for example, it is set to 40°~60°. Return paths C3 are formed on the left and right sleeves 4-2 of the carriage body 4, respectively, parallel to the rolling groove 4a.

[0035] like Figure 2 The right half and Figure 3As shown, the cover member 5 has a central portion 5-1 opposite to the upper surface of the guide rail 1 and a pair of left and right sleeve portions 5-2 opposite to the left and right sides of the guide rail 1. A through hole 5a is formed in the central portion 5-1 of the cover member 5 for fastening members such as screws to be used to install the cover member 5 to the carriage body 4 (see reference). Figure 3 A threaded hole 4c is formed on the carriage body 4 for screwing in the fastening components (see reference). Figure 2 ).

[0036] Two turning circulation grooves 12, one upper and one lower, are formed on the left and right sleeves 5-2 of the cover member 5, respectively, forming the outer periphery of the turning path C2. The cross-sectional shape of the turning circulation groove 12 is not particularly limited; for example, it can be formed as a pointed arch groove. The cross-sectional shape of the turning circulation groove 12 can also be formed as a circular arc groove. The inner periphery of the turning path C2 is formed by the R member part 8, which will be described later.

[0037] like Figure 4 As shown, recesses 5d are formed on the left and right sleeves 5-2 of the cover member 5. A generally semi-cylindrical R-shaped member 8, serving as a component of the inner circumference of the turning path, is provided in each recess 5d. Figure 5 As shown in (a) and (b), two turning circulation grooves 13, one upper and one lower, for turning paths C2 are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the R component 8. The turning circulation grooves 13 of the R component 8 constitute the inner peripheral side of the turning paths C2. The cross-sectional shape of the turning circulation grooves 13 is not particularly limited, for example, it can be formed as a pointed arch groove. The cross-sectional shape of the turning circulation grooves 13 can also be formed as a circular arc groove. It should be noted that an inner plate (not shown) can also be provided on the end face of the carriage body 4, and the R component 8 can be formed on the inner plate.

[0038] like Figure 6 As shown in (a), the ball 3 moving in the rolling path C1 is held between the wall 12a of the turning circulation groove 12 of the cover member 5 and the rolling groove 1a of the guide rail 1. Figure 6 The shaded line in (a) represents the end face of the carriage body 4 of the cover member 5. Figure 6 In the right-angle cross-section of the guide rail of the motion guiding device 10 shown in (a), the wall 12a of the turning circulation groove 12 of the cover member 5 and the rolling groove 1a of the guide rail 1 cause the clamped ball 3 to turn in the turning track direction A. This turning track direction A is the same as the tangent direction at the starting point of the turning circulation groove 12.

[0039] Here, the turning track direction A is made to be from the contact angle direction 11 of ball 3 (refer to...). Figure 2 The more inclined, such as Figure 7As shown, the ball shovel portion 13 (contact ellipse) of the cover member 5, which is in contact with the ball 3 moving in the rolling path C1, is moved further away from the edge 12b of the turning circulation groove 12. Therefore, the ball shovel portion 13 can be made thick-walled, so that the contact between the ball shovel portion 13 and the ball 3 is a surface contact. The ball 3 turns without contacting the edge 12b of the turning circulation groove 12. Reference numeral L is the distance from the edge 5b to the ball shovel portion 13, and reference numeral 14 is the contact ellipse between the rolling groove 1a of the guide rail 1 and the ball 3.

[0040] To make the turning track direction A significantly tilted from the contact angle direction 11 of ball 3, such as Figure 2 As shown in the right half, in the right-angle cross-section of the guide rail of the motion guide device 10, the ball 3 on the upper side of the guide rail 1's rolling groove 1a turns in the downward turning track direction A1, and the ball 3 on the lower side of the guide rail 1's rolling groove 1a turns in the upward turning track direction A2.

[0041] like Figure 6 As shown in (a), in a right-angle cross-section of the guide rail of the motion guide device 10, the contact point P1 between the wall 12a of the turning circulation groove 12 of the cover member 5 and the ball 3 is ( Figure 7 The center of the ball bearing shovel 13), the contact point P2 between the rolling groove 1a of the guide rail 1 and the ball 3 ( Figure 7 The clamping angle γ°, determined by the center of the contact ellipse 14 and the center O of the ball 3, is set to be less than 180°. The reaction force F1 acts on the ball 3 from the wall 12a of the turning circulation groove 12 of the cover member 5, and the reaction force F2 acts on the ball 3 from the rolling groove 1a of the guide rail 1. By setting the clamping angle γ to less than 180°, the resultant force of the two reaction forces F1 and F2 can be directed towards the turning track direction A, allowing the ball 3 to move smoothly along the turning track direction A.

[0042] like Figure 6 As shown in (b), in the right-angle section of the guide rail of the motion guide device 10, the turning track angle α°, determined by the horizontal line H and the turning track direction A of the ball 3 on the rolling groove 1a of the guide rail 1, is set as follows.

[0043] 0°<α°<90°-θ°-β°

[0044] Here, θ° is the contact angle, and β° is the angle of the effective range of the rolling groove 1a of the guide rail 1, which is the angle between the contact angle direction 11 and the line 15 connecting the reference numeral e and the center O of the ball 3. e is the end of the effective range of the rolling groove 1a of the guide rail 1. The cross-sectional shape of the rolling groove 1a of the guide rail 1 changes from concave to convex at e.

[0045] By making the turning track angle α° greater than 0°, the ball 3 on the upper rolling groove 1a of the guide rail 1 can turn in the downward turning track direction A1, and the ball 3 on the lower rolling groove 1a of the guide rail 1 can turn in the upward turning track direction A2. By making the turning track angle α° smaller than 90°-θ°-β°, the ball 3 will not interfere with the end e of the effective range of the rolling groove 1a of the guide rail 1, and the ball 3 can turn in the turning track directions A1 and A2. If the turning track angle α° is greater than 90°-θ°-β°, the ball 3 cannot cross the end e of the effective range of the rolling groove 1a of the guide rail 1.

[0046] like Figure 8 As shown in (a) to (d), the ball bearing 3, turning in the direction of the turning track A, turns along the upper and lower turning circulation grooves 12. Viewed from above by the motion guide device 10, the upper and lower turning circulation grooves 12 are roughly U-shaped, thus the upper and lower ball bearing 3 turns along the track A. Figure 8 The inside of the paper in (a) to (d) moves while turning.

[0047] like Figure 2 As shown in the right half, in a right-angle cross-section of the guide rail of the motion guide device 10, the upper turning circulation groove 12 is bent downwards and the lower turning circulation groove 12 is bent upwards. If the upper and lower balls 3 are made to turn in a straight line along the turning track directions A1 and A2, the upper and lower turning circulation grooves 12 will interfere with each other. By bending the upper turning circulation groove 12 downwards and the lower turning circulation groove 12 upwards, interference between the upper and lower turning circulation grooves 12 can be prevented.

[0048] In a right-angle cross-section of the guide rail of the motion guide device 10, the turning circulation groove 12 of the cover member 5 is curved, for example, an arc with radius R. The shape of the turning circulation groove 12 is not particularly limited; it can be a combination of straight lines and curves, or a combination of multiple arcs with different radii. However, in order to ensure smooth movement of the ball 3, the turning circulation groove 12 is preferably a shape that is continuous in the tangential direction. Figure 2 The single-dot dashed line represents the center line of the turning road C2.

[0049] like Figure 5 As shown in (c), the turning circulation groove 13 of the R component 8 is formed in a shape corresponding to the turning circulation groove 12 of the cover component 5. That is, in the front view of the R component 8, the turning circulation groove 13 of the R component 8 is curved, for example, an arc with radius R. The shape of the turning circulation groove 13 is not particularly limited; it can be a shape composed of a combination of straight lines and curves, or a shape composed of multiple arcs with different radii. However, in order to allow the ball 3 to move smoothly, the turning circulation groove 13 is preferably a shape that is continuous in the tangential direction. Figure 5The single-dot dashed line in (c) represents the center line of the turning road C2.

[0050] The effects of the motion guidance device 10 in this embodiment will be explained below.

[0051] The ball bearing 3, moving in the rolling path C1, is clamped between the wall 12a of the turning circulation groove 12 of the cover member 5 and the rolling groove 1a of the guide rail 1. In a right-angle cross-section of the guide rail of the motion guide device 10, the ball bearing 3 on the upper side of the rolling groove 1a of the guide rail 1 turns obliquely downwards, and the ball bearing 3 on the lower side of the guide rail 1 turns obliquely upwards. Therefore, the ball bearing shovel portion 13 of the cover member 5 can become a thick wall, allowing the ball bearing 3 to contact the surface of the ball bearing shovel portion 13. Furthermore, the overall height of the motion guide device 10 can be kept relatively low.

[0052] In the right-angle cross-section of the guide rail of the motion guide device 10, the clamping angle γ° of the ball 3 is set to less than 180°, so that the ball 3 can smoothly turn in the direction A of the turning track.

[0053] In the right-angle cross-section of the guide rail of the motion guide device 10, the turning track angle α° determined by the horizontal line H and the turning track direction A is set to 0°<α°<90°-θ°-β°. Therefore, the ball 3 will not interfere with the end e of the effective range of the rolling groove 1a of the guide rail 1, and the ball 3 can turn along the turning track direction A.

[0054] In a right-angle cross-section of the guide rail of the motion guide device 10, the turning circulation groove 12 on the upper side of the cover member 5 is bent downwards and the turning circulation groove 12 on the lower side of the cover member 5 is bent upwards. Therefore, even if the upper and lower balls 3 are turned in the turning track direction A, interference between the upper and lower turning circulation grooves 12 can be prevented.

[0055] Furthermore, the balls 3 moving in the rolling path C1 are clamped between the wall 12a of the turning circulation groove 12 of the cover member 5 and the rolling groove 1a of the guide rail 1. In a right-angle cross-section of the guide rail of the motion guide device 10, the turning circulation groove 12 on the upper side of the cover member 5 is bent downwards, and the turning circulation groove 12 on the lower side of the cover member 5 is bent upwards. Therefore, the turning track direction A of the upper and lower balls 3 can be significantly inclined from the contact angle direction 11 of the balls 3. Thus, the ball shovel portion 13 of the cover member 5 can be made to have a thick wall, allowing the balls 3 to contact the surface of the ball shovel portion 13. Additionally, the overall height of the motion guide device 10 can be kept relatively low.

[0056] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be embodied in other embodiments without changing the spirit of the present invention.

[0057] In the above embodiments, the balls on the upper side of the guide rail's rolling groove are turned diagonally downwards, and the balls on the lower side of the guide rail's rolling groove are turned diagonally upwards. However, it is also possible to turn the balls on the upper side of the guide rail's rolling groove diagonally downwards, or to turn the balls on the lower side of the guide rail's rolling groove diagonally upwards.

[0058] In the above embodiments, the turning circulation groove on the upper side of the cover member is bent downward and the turning circulation groove on the lower side of the cover member is bent upward. However, it is also possible that the turning circulation groove on the upper side of the cover member is bent downward or the turning circulation groove on the lower side of the cover member is bent upward.

[0059] In the above embodiment, two circulation paths, one above the other, are provided on the left and one below the right of the motion guiding device. However, three or more circulation paths, one above the other, can also be provided on the left and one below the right of the motion guiding device.

[0060] In the above embodiment, the contact structure of the balls is a DF contact structure, but the contact structure of the balls can also be a DB contact structure. A DF contact structure is configured such that the intersection of the contact angle lines of the upper and lower balls intersects on the inner side of the guide rail, while a DB contact structure is configured such that the intersection point intersects on the outer side of the guide rail. The contact angle line is the line connecting the contact point between the ball and the rolling groove of the guide rail and the contact point between the ball and the rolling groove of the guide rail.

[0061] In the above embodiment, an outer block motion guide device with a U-shaped cross-section carriage spanning the guide rail was described, but it could also be an inner block motion guide device with the carriage assembled on the U-shaped cross-section guide rail.

[0062] This specification is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-164688, filed on September 27, 2023. All of its contents are contained herein.

[0063] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0064] 1…guide rail, 1a…rolling groove, 2…slide, 3…ball bearing, 4…slide body, 4a…rolling groove, 5…cover component, 7…circulation path, 10…motion guide device, 12…turning circulation groove, 12a…wall of turning circulation groove, A…turning track direction, A1…downward direction, A2…upward direction, C1…rolling path, C2…turning path, C3…return path, α°…turning track angle, γ°…clamping angle of ball bearing.

Claims

1. A motion guiding device, comprising: The guide rail has rolling grooves; The carriage has a rolling groove, a return path, and a turning path; and Multiple balls are arranged in a circulation path comprising a rolling groove between the guide rail and the carriage, a return path, and a turning path. The carriage has: The carriage body, having the aforementioned rolling groove; and The cover component has a turning circulation groove for the turning path. The motion guiding device has at least two circulation paths arranged vertically on both the left and right sides, characterized in that... The balls moving in the rolling path are clamped between the wall of the turning circulation groove of the cover member and the rolling groove of the guide rail. Under the right-angle section of the guide rail of the motion guiding device, the balls on the upper side of the guide rail turn obliquely downward and / or the balls on the lower side of the guide rail turn obliquely upward.

2. The motion guiding device according to claim 1, characterized in that, In the right-angle cross-section of the guide rail of the motion guiding device, the clamping angle of the ball, determined by the contact point between the wall of the turning circulation groove of the cover member and the ball, the contact point between the rolling groove of the guide rail and the ball, and the center of the ball, is set to less than 180°.

3. The motion guiding device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, In a right-angle cross-section of the guide rail of the motion guiding device, the turning track angle α° is set as follows, determined by the horizontal line and the turning track direction of the balls on the rolling groove of the guide rail. 0°<α°<90°-θ°-β°, Where θ° is the contact angle and β° is the angle of the effective range of the rolling groove of the guide rail.

4. The motion guiding device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, In a right-angle cross-section of the guide rail of the motion guiding device, the turning circulation groove on the upper side of the cover member is bent downwards, and / or the turning circulation groove on the lower side of the cover member is bent upwards.

5. A motion guiding device, comprising: The guide rail has rolling grooves; The carriage has a rolling groove, a return path, and a turning path; and Multiple balls are arranged in a circulation path comprising a rolling groove between the guide rail and the carriage, a return path, and a turning path. The carriage has: The carriage body, having the aforementioned rolling groove; and The cover component has a turning circulation groove for the turning path. The motion guiding device has at least two circulation paths arranged vertically on both the left and right sides, characterized in that... The ball moving in the rolling path is clamped between the wall of the turning circulation groove of the cover member and the rolling groove of the guide rail. In the right-angle section of the guide rail of the motion guiding device, the turning circulation groove on the upper side of the cover member is bent downward and / or the turning circulation groove on the lower side of the cover member is bent upward.

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