PLAIN BEARING GUIDE, IN PARTICULAR LINEAR GUIDE, WITH PRELOADED SLIDING ELEMENT AND CARRIAGE THEREFOR

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a plain bearing guide, in particular a linear guide, a carriage for such a plain bearing guide or linear guide and a use of the linear guide, in particular for lubrication-free storage without the use of lubricant (dry running).

[0002] Guides of this type are known. For example, they are used for sliding linear guidance in work equipment, production systems, measuring devices, or the like. The prior art includes both linear guides for guidance along a straight guide path and designs for guidance along a curved guide path, which are also considered (curvilinear) linear guides here. Linear guides are generally available in a wide variety of sizes, with different design restrictions applying depending on the size.

[0003] Such linear guides typically comprise a carriage that is slidably mounted on a rail of the linear guide and that can be slid back and forth relative to the rail in a longitudinal direction, e.g., along a straight line or a curve, over an elongated extent of the rail. Sliding surfaces of the carriage slide along guide surfaces of the rail, preferably without lubricant, i.e., without any lubricant provided between the sliding surfaces. Material pairings characterized by a particularly low coefficient of friction, such as plastic-plastic or plastic-metal material pairings, are typically used for the sliding surfaces.

[0004] For example, the rail can be made of metal as an elongated profile with a substantially constant cross-sectional geometry, for example, U-shaped, W-shaped, T-shaped, or the like. The carriage typically comprises a carriage body, which is usually cuboid-shaped and often made of metal and can have fastening means for attaching the carriage to a body to be guided. Likewise, the rail can have fastening means for attaching it to a body relative to which the aforementioned body is to be guided.

[0005] To realize a plastic-metal material pairing, it is known, for example, to form at least parts of the rail from metal and sliding bearing sections of the carriage from plastic, which slide on the parts.

[0006] With generic plain bearing guides or linear guides, it cannot be completely prevented that, with continued use of the linear guide, the sections of the carriage and rail that slide against each other will wear out, leading to undesirable play in the linear guide. Various attempts are made in the prior art to compensate for wear-related play. For example, it is known to design wear-prone sections as separately formed sliding elements that are replaced when a wear limit is exceeded, which entails frequent maintenance intervals. Other solutions, for example, provide for adjustable sliding elements in the carriage that can be adjusted manually or automatically by means of a mechanism, e.g., a coupled gear. However, such solutions have a complex structure with a large number of components, which in turn are subject to wear.Furthermore, linear guides designed in this way are too large or not sufficiently compact for some applications.

[0007] Such solutions are particularly unsuitable for miniaturized linear guides, for example, when the maximum extension of the carriage transverse to the longitudinal direction is to be max. 80 mm, in particular max. 60 mm. Various plain bearing guides are known in CH 663 373 A5, JP 3 740 708 B2, JP 2003 314545 A, DE 2 718 362 A1, US 10 584 746 B2, and US 2006 083 447 A1, in which a preload between the rail and the carriage is ensured by a spring device.

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a plain bearing guide that at least partially eliminates at least one of the aforementioned disadvantages. The plain bearing guide should enable automatic play reduction, particularly in a compact design. To achieve this object, the invention proposes a plain bearing guide, in particular a linear guide, with the features according to claim 1.

[0009] The plain bearing guide according to the invention comprises a rail and a carriage as essential components and is designed in particular according to the features of the preamble of claim 1.

[0010] According to the invention, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, it is proposed that at least one sliding element at least partially encompasses a corresponding guide section of the rail on one side, in particular the transverse side, and that the carriage comprises a spring device for play compensation, which presses the encompassing sliding element as a whole or overall relative to the second sliding bearing section along an adjustment direction transverse to the longitudinal direction, in particular on the transverse side, against the corresponding guide section of the rail.

[0011] The combination of an encompassing design of the sliding element with a simply designed spring device enables a particularly compact design of the slide with automatic play reduction.

[0012] To simplify the construction, the spring device preferably acts directly on the sliding element, i.e. without any additional components in between.

[0013] The spring device can in particular essentially consist of only one or a few spring-acting spring elements.

[0014] The rail has a rail body that is elongated in a longitudinal direction, in particular linear or curvilinear. On both transverse sides of the rail body, ie, sides of the rail viewed in a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, a guide section extending along the longitudinal direction, ie, a first and a second guide section, is formed, in particular integrally with the rail body.

[0015] The rail can in particular be a T-rail, preferably with a compact profile cross-section.

[0016] Particularly preferably, both guide sections are each formed on the same vertical side of the rail body, wherein the vertical side is preferably opposite a fastening side of the rail, to which the rail can preferably be connected to external components. Particularly preferably, both guide sections extend over at least 80%, in particular at least 95%, of the rail's longitudinal extent.

[0017] The slide can be designed as a housing slide for two sliding elements or for double plain bearings.

[0018] The carriage preferably has a carriage body on which a first sliding bearing section and a second sliding bearing section are provided. The first sliding bearing section abuts a first of the guide sections, and the second sliding bearing section abuts a second of the guide sections.

[0019] Preferably, the sliding bearing sections are guided or mounted in a sliding manner relative to the guide sections, while maintaining their contact with the guide sections, and are guided accordingly displaceably. In one embodiment, the sliding bearing sections and the carriage body are integrally formed. In another embodiment, the carriage body and at least one, in particular both, of the sliding bearing sections are formed separately, wherein in particular the carriage body is made of a different material than the sliding bearing sections. The carriage is guided by means of its sliding bearing sections so that it can slide longitudinally on the guide sections relative to the rail.

[0020] Preferably, the carriage is connected to the rail exclusively via its plain bearing sections, which rest on the guide sections of the rail.

[0021] Each of the sliding bearing sections at least partially surrounds one of the guide sections on the respective transverse side to hold the carriage on the rail in at least one direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, preferably completely immobile, with no play. Preferably, the first sliding bearing section surrounds the first guide section, and the second sliding bearing section surrounds the second guide section.

[0022] According to the invention, at least the first plain bearing section comprises a separate sliding element. Preferably, the first plain bearing section rests, in particular exclusively, against the respective guide section with the sliding element.

[0023] The spring device, which presses or presses the sliding element relative to the second sliding bearing section along an adjustment direction that runs transversely to the longitudinal direction, in particular parallel to the transverse direction, against the first guide section, causes the play compensation.

[0024] By means of the spring device, the plain bearing sections are preferably preloaded relative to one another or against the guide sections in the adjustment direction. This occurs in particular by forming a closed force flow transverse to the longitudinal direction, which runs at least through the carriage body, spring device, sliding element, first guide section, rail body, second guide section, and second plain bearing section, in particular in the specified order.

[0025] Generally, the sliding element is preferably detachably received in the carriage body, wherein the sliding element is designed to compensate for a cross-sectional change of the rail along the adjustment direction by moving the sliding element in the adjustment direction relative to the second sliding bearing section

[0026] The preferably passive spring device can cause a largely continuous contact of the sliding element with the first guide section by pressing, pressing or pre-tensioning the sliding element against the first guide section.

[0027] Particularly preferably, the spring device causes an increase in the pressing or pressing force along the adjustment direction when the sliding element is displaced in a direction away from the rail. Particularly preferably, the plain bearing guide or linear guide is designed with a plate-like carriage, which is designed to be loaded predominantly in a load direction by an external force that runs substantially perpendicular to the adjustment direction and, in particular, substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

[0028] Preferably, one of the sliding bearing sections in each case engages around the respective guide section in such a way that the respective sliding bearing section engages behind the respective guide section on both sides of a sliding surface of the respective sliding bearing section, which is pressed against the respective guide section in the adjustment direction, perpendicular to the adjustment direction. The same applies to the sliding element(s) as such. According to the invention, it is provided that at least the first sliding bearing section comprises a sliding element, wherein the spring-loaded sliding element is pressed against the first guide section of the rail in the adjustment direction and engages behind the first guide section on both sides in a direction perpendicular to the adjustment direction.

[0029] The plain bearing guide or linear guide according to the invention is particularly robust due to its simple design and can easily be made highly miniaturized. It has been found, among other things, that it is sufficient if the force with which the sliding element is pressed against the first guide section by means of the spring device is very low, in particular less than 20 N, preferably less than 15 N, particularly preferably ≤ 10 N, and / or at least 2 N, to ensure effective play compensation.

[0030] According to a preferred embodiment, it is sufficient that play compensation is provided exclusively along a single spatial direction corresponding to the adjustment direction, since in many applications play perpendicular to the load direction predominantly leads to imprecise guiding properties.

[0031] According to an advantageous embodiment, the spring device comprises a resiliently deflected spring element. In a preferred embodiment, the spring element is designed as a helical compression spring or spiral spring, in particular made of a suitable metal. In another embodiment, the spring element can be designed, for example, as a rubber-elastic plastic component.

[0032] The spring device automatically presses or pushes the sliding element against the guide section with a suitable preload or pressing force, wherein in the advantageous embodiment, the force depends on a deflection of the spring element. Preferably, the spring element has a spring force proportional to the deflection, which acts in particular in the adjustment direction. Particularly preferably, the spring element is deflected in every position of the slide, wherein in each of the positions, the sliding element is pressed or pushed against the first guide section by the spring device. Particularly preferably, the spring element is arranged in the slide body, which enables a compact design.

[0033] In one embodiment, the carriage comprises a fixing element that fixes the spring element to the carriage body in at least one direction perpendicular to the adjustment direction and in particular perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. In a preferred embodiment, the fixing element is designed as a screw that is screwed into the carriage body from an outer side of the carriage body and is connected to the spring element, whereby the spring element is fixed to the carriage body in a particularly form-fitting manner. In a preferred embodiment, at least one section of the fixing element is arranged overlapping with the spring element in such a way, in particular along the adjustment direction, that the section interacts with the spring element to guide the spring, in particular as a spring mandrel.Particularly preferably, the slide body comprises an access opening through which the spring element is inserted in a direction perpendicular to the adjustment direction, arranged in its intended position in the slide body, and fixed by the fixing element. Particularly preferably, the spring element bears directly against the slide body and / or the first sliding element. Preferably, the force dependent on the deflection of the spring element acts directly on the slide body and / or the sliding element.

[0034] Particularly preferably, the carriage comprises an adjustment guide that guides the sliding element relative to the carriage body over an adjustment path along the adjustment direction. Particularly preferably, the carriage body forms a first part of the adjustment guide that interacts positively with a second part of the adjustment guide formed by the sliding element, in particular in the manner of a tongue and groove connection. Particularly preferably, the adjustment guide prevents the sliding element from being displaced in the longitudinal direction along the adjustment path. Preferably, the sliding element is guided in the adjustment guide relative to the carriage body in such a way that it is displaceable exclusively in the adjustment direction.

[0035] In general, displaceability means displaceability in both directions, i.e., the ability to move back and forth. The adjustment guide preferably has at least one stop that limits the adjustment path. Particularly preferably, the adjustment guide has two stops that limit the adjustment path on both sides. The stop, or in particular the stops, are designed to directly engage the sliding element and prevent displacement of the sliding element in the adjustment direction beyond the adjustment path. In particular, the adjustment guide prevents the sliding element from tilting perpendicular to the adjustment direction.

[0036] According to a preferred embodiment, the spring device engages the sliding element in the longitudinal direction at the level of the adjustment guide. This preferably means that the force from the spring device can be transmitted to the sliding element in the adjustment direction at the level of the adjustment guide. Particularly preferably, the spring device engages the sliding element in a central region of the carriage and / or the sliding element, wherein the central region means a region that is spaced from both absolute extension ends of the component having the region in the longitudinal direction by at least 20%, in particular by at least 30%, of a maximum extension of the respective component in the longitudinal direction. As a result, the sliding element can be pressed or pressed against the first guide section without tilting or jamming.

[0037] According to a generally preferred embodiment, the second sliding bearing section comprises a further sliding element.

[0038] The sliding elements are preferably one-piece, identical plastic components.

[0039] Preferably, each of the sliding elements at least partially encompasses one of the guide sections on the respective transverse side. Particularly preferably, the additional sliding element is immovably mounted on the carriage body. Generally, the first sliding bearing section preferably consists of the sliding element and / or the second sliding bearing section consists of the additional sliding element. By providing the sliding elements, the carriage body can be designed for good load-bearing capacity, and the sliding elements can be designed for good sliding performance.

[0040] According to a preferred embodiment, it has at least three sliding surfaces, wherein at least two of the sliding surfaces of one of the sliding bearing sections are in sliding contact with different sides, i.e. sides perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, of one of the guide sections. The sliding surfaces of one of the sliding bearing sections are different in particular in that they point in different directions, wherein preferably several sliding surfaces of one of the sliding bearing sections can merge into one another without interruption. In particular, at least one, in particular at least two, in particular at least three, of the sliding surfaces of the first sliding bearing section is formed by the sliding element. Preferably, at least one, in particular at least two, in particular at least three, of the sliding surfaces of the second sliding bearing section is formed by the further sliding element.Preferably, the sliding surface of the first plain bearing section facing the transverse side in the adjustment direction is formed by the sliding element. The sliding surfaces of the plain bearing sections are arranged in particular in such a way that at least two of the sliding surfaces face each other and / or at least two sliding surfaces of one of the plain bearing sections run essentially parallel and opposite one another. Particularly preferably, at least one of the sliding surfaces is interrupted in its longitudinal extension by a central region, wherein the central region preferably has a free surface spaced from the rail and set back from the adjacent free surface. This specifies a defined minimum guide length, in particular of at least 10 mm in each case, for the sliding engagement of the guide section and the plain bearing section, thereby preventing tilting.Preferably, at least two of the sliding surfaces of a sliding bearing section always rest against the corresponding guide sections, of which at least one of the sliding surfaces points in the direction of adjustment.

[0041] According to a preferred embodiment in which the second plain bearing section comprises the additional sliding element, at least one, in particular at least two, in particular at least three of the sliding surfaces of the second plain bearing section are preferably formed by the additional sliding element. The sliding surfaces formed by the sliding elements preferably face one another along the adjustment direction.

[0042] Particularly preferably, the sliding elements are of the same type or of identical construction, wherein the sliding elements each have an outer contour which, in particular along the longitudinal direction, is at least partially substantially cylindrical, in particular circular-cylindrical, in particular over at least 60%, in particular at least 70%, in particular at least 80%, of an extension of the sliding element in the longitudinal direction.

[0043] According to a preferred embodiment, the carriage body has at least one receiving area which comprises a receiving space for receiving the sliding element, which is modeled on at least sections of the outer contour of the sliding element and is in particular substantially cylindrical, in particular circularly cylindrical, at least in sections. Generally speaking, the carriage body is preferably designed such that it at least partially encompasses both of the guide sections on their respective transverse sides, in particular without directly contacting the guide sections. The sliding element is held on the carriage body in the receiving space formed by the receiving area, in particular such that it comes to rest, in particular directly, between the carriage body and the respective guide section.The receiving space is widened in such a way that the sliding element can be displaced relative to the carriage body within the receiving space over the adjustment path along the adjustment direction. For example, the inner contour of the receiving space can be modeled after an at least partially circular-cylindrical outer contour of the sliding element in such a way that it has an at least partially oval-cylindrical inner contour, wherein an extension radius of the receiving space substantially coincides with an outer radius of the outer contour of the sliding element.Particularly preferably, the carriage body has a further receiving area which comprises a receiving space for receiving the further sliding element, which is modeled on at least sections of the outer contour of the further sliding element and is in particular substantially cylindrical, in particular circular-cylindrical, at least in sections, and in which the further sliding element is held on the carriage body in a particularly immovable manner. Features which are disclosed in relation to the receiving area can be transferred accordingly, i.e. with reference to the further sliding element, to the further guide section. The sliding element is held in the carriage body by the guide section, the carriage body being held on the rail via the sliding element with its guide sections.

[0044] According to a preferred embodiment, the rail is guided through a passage of the carriage body in the longitudinal direction. As a result, at least one section, in particular the guide sections, is preferably accommodated in the carriage body in every position. The respective receiving space borders on the passage, in particular it merges into the passage. According to the preferred embodiment, at least one, in particular both, of the sliding elements accommodated in the passage can be placed against the respective receiving area with elastic deflection for holding them in the respective receiving area. This means in particular that in order to hold the sliding element in the respective receiving area, the sliding element is first arranged in the passage, whereupon the sliding element can be displaced into the respective receiving space, in particular along the adjustment direction, with elastic deflection of at least sections of the respective sliding element.In general, an elastic deflection is understood to mean a deflection relative to a rest position, whereby the deflection is caused by the action of an external force, forming an inherent counterforce (spring force). Particularly preferably, the sliding element is held in the receiving area without deflection.

[0045] Particularly preferably, the slide body is manufactured from a base material, in particular using a die-casting process. A variety of materials that exhibit particularly good strength and / or rigidity are suitable as the base material. A zinc alloy has proven particularly suitable as the base material, with the slide body preferably being manufactured using a zinc die-casting process and particularly preferably being further processed using mechanical, in particular machining, manufacturing processes. Preferably, the sliding element and / or the additional sliding element is manufactured, in particular using an injection-molding process, from a sliding material that differs from the base material.

[0046] For certain applications, designs in which the base material and sliding material are identical may also be considered. A tribologically optimized plastic, especially a tribopolymer, has proven particularly suitable as a sliding material, which is preferably processable by plastic injection molding.

[0047] The tribopolymers that can be used here include, in particular, the thermoplastics polyethylene, polypropylene, polyacetal, polycarbonate, polyamide, polyvinyl chloride, polytetrafluoroethylene, and, among the thermosets, phenolic resins. To further reduce friction, these plastics can contain lubricants, in particular fine-particle solid lubricants such as molybdenum disulfide or graphite. Such polymers are also referred to herein as tribopolymers. Since friction also reduces wear and abrasion, these products are particularly suitable when high purity is important, such as in the food and semiconductor industries, as well as in biochemical and microbiological applications. The polymeric materials can also contain fillers and fibers, for example made of plastic or textile, to improve their mechanical properties. The tribologically optimized plastic orTribopolymer is preferably formed from a compound. The compound preferably contains a base polymer, for example a thermoplastic, in particular polyethylene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, polyamide, polyvinyl chloride, or polytetrafluoroethylene. The compound preferably contains particles that act as solid lubricants, for example molybdenum disulfide and / or graphite. The compound preferably contains one or more fillers, for example reinforcing fibers and / or reinforcing particles. The rail is preferably formed in one piece. The rail is preferably made of a metal material, which in particular contains aluminum and / or an aluminum alloy, and which is preferably hard-anodized, which leads to advantageous sliding and abrasion properties in a material pairing with plastic.

[0048] Particularly preferably, the sliding element and / or the further sliding element has a stepped fixing section that engages behind a corresponding fixing section of the carriage body to fix the respective sliding element along the longitudinal direction. Particularly preferably, the fixing sections are each arranged in the longitudinal direction at the height of the spring device and / or at the height of the adjustment guide. Particularly preferably, the fixing section of the sliding element and the fixing section of the second or further sliding element are arranged at the same height. Particularly preferably, all of the fixing sections are arranged at the height of the central region of the carriage body, whereby the carriage can be designed particularly simply.

[0049] According to a preferred embodiment, the carriage body has an access opening, preferably on one side perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, for inserting at least parts of the spring device, in particular the spring element, into the carriage body. Particularly preferably, the fixing section of the carriage body extends beyond the access opening on both sides along the longitudinal direction. This allows the access openings and fixing section to be arranged in a particularly space-saving manner without adversely affecting the respective function.

[0050] Generally, it is particularly preferred for the carriage to have an anti-rotation section for at least one, in particular for both, of the sliding elements, which, when in contact with the respective sliding element, in particular with its fixing section, blocks rotation of the sliding element relative to the carriage body about a rotation axis running in the longitudinal direction. For this purpose, the anti-rotation section can preferably have a plurality of planar surfaces facing in different directions and resting against the sliding element, which, when in contact with the sliding element, block rotation of the sliding element relative to the carriage body. The anti-rotation section ensures that the intended position of the sliding element in the carriage body is maintained even when the carriage is not guided on the rail.

[0051] Generally, each sliding element preferably extends continuously over at least 80%, in particular at least 90%, of a maximum extension of the carriage body along the longitudinal direction. Particularly preferably, all of the sliding surfaces of the first sliding bearing section are formed by the sliding element, in particular over at least 90% of the extension of the sliding element in the longitudinal direction. Particularly preferably, all of the sliding surfaces of the second sliding bearing section are formed by the further sliding element, wherein the sliding surfaces of the second sliding bearing section preferably extend over at least 90% of the extension of the sliding element in the longitudinal direction.

[0052] The invention further relates to a carriage per se, which is designed for a plain bearing guide according to the invention. The carriage has a carriage body on which a first plain bearing section is provided for bearing against a first guide section of a rail of the plain bearing guide or linear guide, and a second plain bearing section is provided for bearing against a second guide section of the rail. The plain bearing sections are designed to guide the carriage, in particular the carriage body, in a slidingly displaceable manner on the guide sections relative to the rail in a longitudinal direction, wherein one of the plain bearing sections is designed to at least partially encompass one of the guide sections. By encompassing the plain bearing sections bearing against the guide sections, the carriage is held on the rail perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

[0053] According to the invention, the carriage comprises a spring device which is designed to press or press the sliding element relative to the second sliding bearing section along an adjustment direction transverse to the longitudinal direction transversely laterally against the first guide section in order to compensate for play.

[0054] In general, the carriage may have one or more of the preferred features disclosed above in connection with the carriage.

[0055] The invention further relates to a use of the plain bearing guide or linear guide according to the invention for lubrication-free plain bearing of a movable component in a machine or system.

[0056] With regard to the mode of operation, it can be provided, in particular, that the spring device presses the sliding element as a whole relative to the second plain bearing section along a positioning direction transverse to the longitudinal direction or transversely laterally against the first guide section. By means of the passive spring device, the sliding element is automatically displaced relative to the second plain bearing section in the positioning direction to automatically compensate for play in the linear guide during operation.

[0057] The invention is explained in more detail below without limitation with reference to two figures using a preferred embodiment.

[0058] They show: Figure 1: an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the linear guide according to the invention; Figures 2A to 2E: in sectional views and side and top views, respectively, a carriage according to the invention made of Figure 1 .

[0059] In Figure 11 is an exploded view of an embodiment of a linear guide according to the invention in a schematic principle representation. The linear guide comprises a rail 1 and a carriage 2, which is designed to be guided in sliding engagement relative to the rail 1. The rail 1 is designed as a one-piece profile that is elongated in a longitudinal direction V, along which the carriage 2 is displaced relative to the rail 1. The rail 1 is made of a hard-anodized aluminum alloy. The rail 1 comprises a rail body 10, on each of whose two transverse sides extends a guide section 11, 12 formed integrally with the rail body 10. Provided in the rail body 10 are a plurality of through-bores that are equally spaced apart along the longitudinal direction V. The through-bores serve to fasten the rail 1 using suitable fastening means.The rail 1 is shown interrupted, extending in a straight line along its entire length in the longitudinal direction. Each of the guide sections 11, 12 has a plurality of guide surfaces, wherein all guide surfaces of one of the guide sections 11, 12 point in different spatial directions. Two of the guide surfaces of each of the guide sections 11, 12 run essentially parallel, pointing in opposite directions, wherein an intermediate guide surface of each of the guide sections 11, 12 runs perpendicular thereto. As a result, the rail 1 has an essentially T-shaped cross-section over its entire length along the longitudinal direction V.

[0060] The carriage 2 comprises a carriage body 20, which is essentially cuboid-shaped and has two protruding fastening sections, each of which has two threaded bores designed to be connected to a body by means of suitable fastening means. A first sliding bearing section and a second sliding bearing section are provided on the carriage body 20, by means of which the carriage 2 can be guided in a sliding manner on the guide section 11, 12 relative to the rail 1 in the longitudinal direction. The first sliding bearing section has a sliding element 21 formed separately from the carriage body 20, and the second sliding bearing section has a further sliding element 22 formed separately from the carriage body 20. The sliding elements 21, 22 are preferably one-piece, identically constructed injection-molded parts made of a tribopolymer.

[0061] The guide sections each engage with their sliding elements 21, 22 around one of the guide sections 11, 12 on the respective transverse side, at least partially, when the components of the linear guide shown in the exploded view are joined together. By engaging around, the carriage 2 is held on the rail 1 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction V, while a sliding displacement of the carriage 2 relative to the rail 1 along the longitudinal direction is possible. The carriage further comprises a spring device which comprises a spring element 23, here e.g. a helical compression spring. The spring element 23 is accommodated as intended in the carriage body 20 and acts, in particular in a spring-elastic manner, between the sliding element 21 and the carriage body 20. By means of the spring element 23,The spring device presses the sliding element 21 against the first guide section 11 along an adjustment direction S, thereby pressing the second guide section 12 against the further sliding element 22 of the second plain bearing section. This creates a play compensation of the linear guide along the adjustment direction without affecting the sliding properties of the linear guide components acting perpendicularly thereto.

[0062] Figures 2A to 2E each show in schematic principle representations the carriage 2 of the exemplary embodiment of the linear guide from Figure 1 in plan view, in side view and in two sectional views. The sectional views in the Figures 2A and 2C refer to two differently positioned cuts of the carriage 2 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction V in the Figures 2B and 2D, wherein the cuts are spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal direction V. The carriage body 20 has a passage 203 through which the rail 1 with its guide sections 11, 12 is guided as intended. Adjacent to the passage 203, the carriage body 20 has a receiving area 201, 202 on both sides along the adjustment direction, which each forms a receiving space for receiving the sliding element 21 or the further sliding element 22. The sliding elements 21, 22 are held on the carriage body 20 by means of the receiving area 201, 202. The carriage 1 further has an adjustment guide 25 formed as a recess integral with the carriage body 20, along which the sliding element 21 can be slidably displaced relative to the carriage body 20 over an adjustment path.Thus, the receiving space of the receiving area 201 and the receiving space of the further receiving area 202 are designed differently in such a way that the further sliding element 22 is held immovably on the carriage body 20, wherein the sliding element 21 is held displaceably in the carriage body 20 along the adjustment direction S over a distance. The spring element 23 of the spring device in the carriage body 20 presses against the sliding element 21 in the adjustment direction S, and the sliding element 21 presses against the first guide section 11 to compensate for play in the linear guide. The adjustment path of the sliding element 21 is limited by stops, which are realized by a cross-sectional reduction of the receiving space along the adjustment direction of the receiving area 201.

[0063] Both sliding elements 21, 22 are essentially identical in design, with each of the sliding elements 21, 22 having a sectionally substantially circular-cylindrical outer contour, which is interrupted in the central region by a fixing section which is offset from the surrounding outer contour and is designed to engage behind a corresponding fixing section of the carriage body 20 in order to fix the respective sliding element 21, 22 along the longitudinal direction V. In the central region, a plurality of flat surfaces are further formed on the outer contour of the respective sliding element 21, 22, which abut corresponding surfaces in the carriage body 20, thereby preventing rotation of the respective sliding element 21, 22 relative to the carriage body 20 about a rotation axis running in the longitudinal direction V. The flat surfaces therefore jointly form an anti-rotation section of the respective sliding element 21, 22.Generally advantageously, the sliding elements 21, 22 each extend along the longitudinal direction V over almost the entire extent of the carriage body 20 along the longitudinal direction V.

[0064] Accordingly, in the sectional view C, the sliding elements 21, 22 are hidden for improved representation of the essentially cylindrical inner contour of the respective receiving space of the receiving areas 201, 202.

[0065] Other notable advantages of the invention are: Lubrication-free operation (without lubricant); smooth, continuous sliding of the slide; good hold of the slide (positional stability); quiet and rattle-free operation; simple design of the clearance adjustment; and compact design of the rail and slide. List of reference symbols

[0066] 1Rail 2Slide 10Rail body 11First guide section 12Second guide section 20Slide body 21Sliding element 22Further sliding element 23Spring element 24Fixing element 25Adjustment guide 201Receiving area 202Further receiving area 203Guide SAdjustment direction VLongitudinal direction

Claims

1. Slide bearing guide device, in particular linear guide device, comprising a rail (1) which has a rail body (10) which is elongated in a longitudinal direction (V) and on the two transverse sides of which a respective guide portion (11, 12) extending along the longitudinal direction (V) is formed, and a carriage (2) which has a carriage body (20) on which a first slide bearing portion abutting against a first of the guide portions (11) and a second slide bearing portion abutting against a second of the guide portions (12) are provided, by means of which the carriage (2) is slidably guided on the guide portions relative to the rail (1) in the longitudinal direction (V), wherein a respective one of the slide bearing portions at least partially engages around one of the guide portions (11, 12) on the respective transverse side for holding the carriage (2) on the rail (1) perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction (V), wherein at least the first slide bearing portion comprises a sliding element (21), characterized in that the sliding element (21) of the first slide bearing portion at least partially engages around the corresponding guide portion (11, 12) on the respective transverse side, and the carriage (2) comprises a spring device for play compensation, which presses the surrounding sliding element (21) against the first guide portion (11) relative to the second slide bearing portion along an adjusting direction (S) transverse to the longitudinal direction (V), wherein the spring loaded sliding element (21) is pressed against the first guide portion (11) of the rail (1) in the actuating direction (S) and engages behind the first guide portion (11) at both sides in a direction perpendicular to the actuating direction, wherein the spring-loaded sliding element (21) is made of a plastic having tribological additives.

2. Slide bearing guide device according to claim 1, characterized in that the spring device comprises or consists of at least one spring element (23) resiliently acting in particular along the adjusting direction (S), the carriage preferably comprising a fixing element (24) which fixes the spring element (23) to the carriage body (20) at least in a direction perpendicular to the adjusting direction (S).

3. Slide bearing guide device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the slide (2) comprises an adjustment guide device (25) which displaceably guides the sliding element (21) relative to the carriage body (20) over an adjustment path along the adjustment direction (S), the adjustment guide device (25) preferably having at least one stop which limits the adjustment path and / or preferably being formed by a recess in the carriage body (20).

4. Slide bearing guide device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, in particular according to claim 3, characterized in that the spring device, in particular the spring element, engages directly at the sliding element (21), in particular relative to the longitudinal direction (V) at the level of the adjustment guide device (24) and / or in a central region of the carriage (2).

5. Slide bearing guide device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second slide bearing portion comprises a further sliding element (22) and / or the at least one sliding element (21) or both sliding elements (21, 22) each have at least three sliding surfaces, at least two of the sliding surfaces of one of the slide bearing portions in each case slidingly abutting against respectively different sides of one of the guide portions (11, 12) and / or being essentially perpendicular to one another.

6. Slide bearing guide device according to claim 5, characterized in that the sliding elements (21, 22) are of the same type, in particular of identical design and in one piece, wherein the sliding elements (21, 22) preferably have - three inner sliding surfaces substantially perpendicular to one another and / or - each have an outer contour which is substantially cylindrical, in particular circular-cylindrical, at least in sections.

7. Slide bearing guide device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carriage body (20) forms a receiving region (201) for each sliding element (21, 22) in the corresponding slide bearing portion, which receiving region comprises a receiving space substantially conjugate to the outer contour of the sliding element (21) for receiving the respective sliding element (21, 22), wherein the receiving space is designed in particular substantially cylindrically, in particular circular-cylindrically, at least in sections, wherein the receiving space of the sliding element (21) cooperating with the spring device is designed widened transversely to the longitudinal direction, for forming an adjustment guide device (25).

8. Slide bearing guide device according to claim 7, characterized in that the at least one sliding element or the sliding elements (21, 22) can be applied against the respective receiving region under elastic deflection.

9. Slide bearing guide device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carriage body (20) is made from a metallic base material, in particular by a die-casting process, wherein the sliding element(s) (21, 22) is(are) made from a sliding material different from the base material, in particular a tribopolymer, in particular by an injection molding process.

10. Slide bearing guide device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sliding element (21) and / or the further sliding element (22) has or have an offset fixing portion which engages with a corresponding fixing portion of the carriage body (20) for fixing the respective sliding element (21, 22) along the longitudinal direction (V).

11. Slide bearing guide device according to claim 10, characterized in that the fixing portion or portions is or are arranged in the longitudinal direction (V) at the level of the spring device and / or at the level of the adjustment guide device (25) and / or the carriage body (20) comprises an access opening for inserting the spring device, in particular the spring element (23), into the carriage body (20).

12. Slide bearing guide device according to one of the preceding claims, in particular according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the carriage (2) has, for each sliding element (21, 22), an anti-rotation portion which, when in contact with the sliding element (21, 22), in particular with its fixing portion, prevents the sliding element (21, 22) from rotating about an axis of rotation extending in the longitudinal direction (V).

13. Slide bearing guide device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sliding element (21) and / or the further sliding element (22) extends or extend continuously over at least 80% of an extension of the carriage body (20) in the longitudinal direction (V).

14. Carriage (2) for a slide bearing guide device, in particular a linear guide device, according to one of claims 1 to 13, comprising a carriage body (20) on which a first slide bearing portion is provided for abutment against a first guide portion (11) of a rail (1) of the linear guide device and a second slide bearing portion is provided for abutment against a second guide portion (12) of the rail (1), wherein the slide bearing portions are designed for guiding the carriage (2) slidably on the guide portions (11, 12) relative to the rail (1) in a longitudinal direction (V), wherein one of the slide bearing portions is respectively designed to engage at least partially around one of the guide portions (11, 12), respectively for holding the carriage (2) on the rail (1) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (V), wherein at least the first slide bearing portion comprises a sliding element (21), characterized in that the carriage (2) comprises a spring device for compensation of play, which spring device is designed to press a surrounding sliding element (21) as a whole against the first guide portion (11) relative to the second slide bearing portion along an adjusting direction (S) transverse to the longitudinal direction (V)) , wherein the spring loaded sliding element (21) is pressed against the first guide portion (11) of the rail (1) in the actuating direction (S) and engages behind the first guide portion (11) at both sides in a direction perpendicular to the actuating direction, wherein the spring-loaded sliding element (21) is made of a plastic having tribological additives.

15. Carriage according to claim 14, characterized by at least one of the features further improving the carriage according to any one of claims 2 to 13.

16. Use of a slide bearing guide device according to any one of claims 1 to 13 for lubrication-free sliding support of a movable component in a machine or system.